Solidarity With Basque Trade Unionists And Political Activists

Ógra Shinn Féin activists from across the country joined a protest organised by Dublin Ógra and the Dublin Basque Solidarity Campaign. This is one of a series of demonstrations attended by Ógra members over the course of 2009 with more activity expected on the issue.

North Leinster activist Ross Taylor, who has visited the Basque country several times said; "We are here today to show solidarity with the 37,000 people who marched behind the Basque trade union banner in Donostia. Oppression in the Basque country is not heard of in the media. We will continue to do what we can to highlight this and stand shoulder to shoulder with Basque comrades."

Participants distributed leaflets and with Irish and Basque flags carried large placards with slogans including: “ End the repression of Basque’s: Freedom of Expression! Freedom of the Press and Radio! Freedom of Assembly!” “Spanish Police Torture Detainees!” “765 Political Prisoners Spread Over Britain and France!” “Jon Anza – ‘disappeared’ since April 2009 – what have you done with him?” “Hands Off the Basque Trade Unions!” “Hands Off the Belfast Basques!”


Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin's weekly stall at the GPO highlights the plight of the Basque people with leaflets and information about Ógra's activism.

Onwards and upwards for Dublin ÓSF

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin are set to become the most active society in Dublin's universities. Hundreds of new applications to join were made over the last month at freshers events. Ógra Shinn Féin socities were represented in the following unversities;

• Trinity College
• University College Dublin
• Dublin City University
• Griffith College
• Dublin Institute of Technology

Sinn Féin flags were hoisted and freshers packs handed out to applicants who signed up in their droves. A high quality newsletter, DVD on the history of the republican struggle, stationery and a copy of the proclamation were included in the packs. Application figures have surged since last year, signalling a rise in political awareness among students opposed to fees and other policies introduced by the shambolic government. Asked about the attraction to Ógra Shinn Féin, one student stated that she wanted to be active in the campaign against fees and the general ineptitude of the Fianna Fáil/Greens. Another student stated that Ógra Fianna Fáil were "ran like dogs" from a freshers event in DCU. Ógra activist Daithí Byrne commented on the surge in applicants;

"Students are saying they attracted to our radical politics and activism displayed over the years in Dublin, most recently the anti-fees campaign. They aren't satisfied with the 'all talk no action' policy of other opposition groups like Young Fine Gael."

Paddy Daly, Dublin college co-ordinator commented on the successful freshers campaign; "This has been a huge success for us with people genuinely interested in getting involved in republican politics and activism. The priority for me will be to build a new college structure for Dublin ÓSF and organise events such as protests that will put us on the map."

After a spectacular freshers recruitment drive, Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin are putting education/introduction to Sinn Féin high on the agenda, which will include one to one meetings with each applicant. Anti-fees will also be high on the agenda for the coming weeks.

To contact Dublin ÓSF: dublinogra@gmail.com

Dublin Ógra join community sector demo

Around 15,000 people took part in a protest against cutbacks in the community sector. Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists arrived early with flags, placards and leaflets.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Vice President Mary Lou McDonald were also in attendance.

The ‘Communities against Cuts’ campaign represents thousands of workers providing essential services to children, the elderly, disabled, recovering drug addicts, travellers, young people and women in the country’s most disadvantaged areas. Government cut backs have already seen the closure of community development projects and the McCarthy report proposals, if implemented, will result in the loss of a further 6,500 jobs in the Community sector.

Ógra Atha Cliath spokesperson Mick Farrell said; "The community groups who benefited least from the Celtic Tiger are paying the price for the government's failed policy of profit over people."

Some of the groups suffering from cuts include Drug Task Force groups, CDPs and community service programmes.

No to Lisbon campaign kick started

Sinn Féin and Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin in Lucan and Clondalkin held a day of action against the re-run of the Lisbon Treaty. Pickets were held at the constituency offices of Green party TD Paul Gogarty and Fianna Fail TD John Curran. Two large banners were erected on both offices by Ógra activists, which invited large support from passers by.


Spokesperson Daithí Byrne stated; "We are confident that the very same treaty will be rejected again for the very same reasons as before. The arguements presented by the 'Yes' camp lost credibility a long time ago. Approximately 50 million euro will be wasted on running the referendum again." Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin will be actively campaigning against the treaty in the coming weeks.

dublinogra@gmail.com

Cowen and Co. confronted at NAMA signing

Activists from Dublin Sinn Féin and Ógra Shinn Féin confronted Brian Cowen's entourage on Wednesday as the cabinet was due to sign off on the controversial National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) legislation. NAMA will make the taxpayer overpay for bad loans given by reckless banks to greedy developers. ÓSF members were protesting as part of a United Alliance Against Cuts demonstration.

Cowen was greeted by Ógra activists who made sure to let him know what they thought of NAMA and cutbacks to the states health and education sectors. The NAMA bill, which will be published tomorrow, will also lend taxpayers' money to developers to finish their projects, when ordinary people and small businesses cannot get loans from the banks and face repossession. Following the An Bord Snip report, the government is planning to impose up to €5 billion more worth of brutal cutbacks on workers, the poor and the most vulnerable in or society. Despite this, the government is pushing ahead with NAMA which will cost us an estimated €60 billion or more.
Dublin Ógra Shinn Fein spokesperson Daithí Byrne stated “NAMA is the ultimate joke. The government is using our money, for their mistakes and they are getting away with it. Our children’s futures have been auctioned. Yet not one politician, not one banker, not one developer has been held to account. It’s a free for all for greedy, selfish developers and banks, but we must pay our bills. I call on everyone to join the national demonstration on Saturday 19th in Dublin. We must show the Fianna Fail/Green government what we think of them.”

http://unitedallianceagainstcuts.wordpress.com/

Video:
http://www.tv3.ie/news.php?video=13501&locID=1.2.141

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin slam latest education cuts

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin's Saturday stall became the centre of a protest today against the latest attack by the Fianna Fail/Green Government against education. Over thirty activists gathered at the GPO to distribute leaflets explaining the cuts.

According to Dublin spokesperson, Marcas Ó Mhaoldomhnaigh, many parents have been hit with bills costing hundreds of euro for books and school uniforms. "Many schools are set to lose special needs assistants and other vital resources. This government did not invest properly in the education system during the boom years and now we are seeing school children and their parents paying for their mistakes, it is completely unacceptable. Free primary education will truly be a thing of the past if we allow our schools to be further stripped of resources."

At the picket ÓSF National Organiser, Barry McColgan stated, "What makes these cuts particularly nauseating is that they are targeting children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. These cuts are not necessary. It is a simple matter of priorities. Do we bail out the banks or educate our children."

Dublin Ógra on frontline at Dublin docks

Dublin activists today took part in a march organised by the Dublin Port Workers Group, which have been locked in a bitter dispute with their employer Peel Ports Group. The dockers have held out for over seven weeks, and were forced to strike after their employer imposed force redundancies and introduced new contracts with pay cuts and worse conditions. Despite the company employing scabs from Britain, and a security firm made up of ex-SAS operatives, the communities of Irishtown, East Wall and Ringsend have stood by the dockers in support. The company also took a high court injunction preventing effective picketing. Dock workers from across Europe have sent messages of solidarity and after pledges of similar action, Rotterdam was shut down in support of the action in Dublin today.

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Daithí Byrne said; "Its great to see the communities of Irishtown, East Wall and Ringsend standing side by side with the workers, who have been treated despicably by their employers. We call on other communities to do the very same. If Peel Ports Group is successful, they could very well use the same policy to undermine workers throughout Ireland. Dublin Ógra will continue to support their ongoing protest and wish them every success as they continue to fight for their rights."

Dublin Ógra condemn British Navy arrival

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin protested today against the arrival of the British naval vessel the HMS Mersey (P283) in Dublin Port. The vessel, which is armed with a 20mm cannon and two machine guns arrived in Dublin yesterday morning and is due to leave on Thursday at 0600.


Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Daithi Byrne said; ''This ship is representative of the same navy that is responsible for occupation and oppression across the globe. We are here today to tell the British Navy that there are not welcome in Ireland and to show our opposition to the display of British force. The open arm welcoming of this ship by the Government is insensitive and unacceptable.''

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson Mick Farrell has called on the Government as a matter of urgency to frame a coherent strategy to tackle the crisis in Irish fishing. This comes as the British naval vessel the HMS Mersey, which is responsible for harassing Irish fishermen in Irish waters, arrived in Dublin. Dublin Ógra questioned the Government on quota allocation management, the high level of fines imposed on Irish fishermen, and the Government's strategy to protect the Irish Box conservation area. "The restrictions placed on fishermen are making many feel that they are being criminalized for pursuing their livelihood.", said Mick Farrell.

On the streets with Dublin Ógra

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists were on the streets of the city over the course of the week as part of a recruitment drive launched by the cúige. In streets and alleys, posters with the Ógra and Na Fianna Éireann logos were erected to mark the significant anniversary of Irish republican youth in struggle. Dublin Ógra were especially active in Moore Street, the location of the final HQ of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic on Easter Week, 1916.



The latest activity of the recruitment drive, the flyposting was a sucess, and is one of many initiatives that will be taken over the course of the future. Every Saturday, Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin will be running an information stall outside the GPO, one of the most significant historic locations of revolutionary Dublin.



Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin spokeperson Daithí Byrne said; "This simple yet highly effective recruitment method is one of many ideas that will be employed by Dublin activists in the coming weeks. Our mission is simple, and that is to get the republican message out to the young people of Dublin and to continue to be strong players in the city's youth politics. Every Saturday we run a stall outside the GPO and we would encourage anyone who is interested in what we do and what we stand for to come along."

To contact Dublin ÓSF email; dublinogra@blogspot.com

Dublin Ógra in solidarity with Dublin Port workers

Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists manned a picket yesterday outside theFour Courts in the city. A march was held by the Dublin Port WorkersGroup last week in support of SIPTU members who are in dispute with UKcompany Peel Ports at the Marine Terminal in Dublin Port on Tuesday28, July. Over 300 people from the communities of East Wall, Irishtownand Ringsend from both sides of the river Liffey joined together tohold a protest at the Marine Terminal where forty-two SIPTU membershave been picketing for over a month over the company’s refusal tonegotiate with the union and to enforce pay cuts and redundancies.

The company took a High Court injunction which prevents effectivepicketing by the striking workers. While the workers were lockedoutside their place of employment, scabs from Britain were employed,while Irish workers weren't paid.

Yesterday morning, the controversy was resolved. It was agreed that thedefendants and their agents would be restrained from picketing thecompany's cargo terminal in a manner which directly obstructs vehiclesseeking access to and egress from the Marine Terminal's facility.

Dublin Ógra spokesperson Daithí Byrne said; "The fact that MarineTermal Ltd. workers were treated in such a fashion is a disgrace.Dublin Port is state owned, with MTL its sole tenant. The governmenthave a duty to intervene in support of workers rights. The Britishowned company appears to have faced no oppostition from the governmentwhile it walked all over the workers. Dublin ÓSF activists have beensupporting workers rights day and night over the last week and willcontinue to do so."

To contact Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin for information or to join, contact dublinogra@gmail.com