November/ Vol.13 No. 9 December 2014 ISSN 0791-458X Yes to Keeping The TTIP equality water public challenge Page 6 Page 12-14 Page 21

DIVISIONAL CONFER- Abolish ENCE REPORTS unfair Page 6-8 CHRISTMAS BOOK USC REVIEWS by Frank Connolly Page 25-27 The SIPTU National Executive Council (NEC) has called for the abolition of the Universal Social Charge (USC). The charge, which was introduced as an emer- gency measure by the Fianna Fáil - Green Party gov- ernment in 2011, is a regressive tax which makes no distinction between low and high income earners. LIBERTY According to SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, the USC “is at CROSSWORD odds with the generally progressive character of the PAYE sys- tem in that a person on the minimum wage pays at the same level as those at the top of the income spectrum.” WIN tickets to The USC is expected to raise €4 billion in 2015 and plays a the Abbey crucial role in generating revenues for the State. Theatre and “Accordingly, it cannot be abolished in one fell swoop with- out enormous consequences for those who depend on public overnight stay services. Therefore, it would be necessary to replace it with in Wynn’s Hotel other measures to generate revenue from wealth and those on higher incomes. Even in that context it can only be phased out Page 31 1122 33454 5 gradually,” O’Connor said. 7 8

“Apart from re-distributing the burden so that the better off 9 10 contribute more, projected levels of economic growth over the 1111 12 13 14 next few years, if they are realised, will offer the possibility of SIPTU nurses and midwives protesting at the head office of the Nursing and 15 16 Midwifery Board in Blackrock, Dublin on Tuesday 18th November. Photo: Jim Weldon 17 18 19 Continued on page 2 2 Liberty In this month’sLiberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 News ‘Face Up to Relatives’ Rising commemoration plans Racism’ workshop Page 4 As part of SIPTU’s ongoing campaign to combat racism and sectarianism in the workplace, the National Equality Committee and SIPTU Shop Stewards from a wide range of ethnic and national backgrounds including Anna Wianowska The need for good from Poland, held a ‘Face Up to Racism' workshop in governance Liberty Hall on Tuesday (18th November). Page 9 Referendum can keep Liberty View Liberty water public Page 11 SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor View and Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan pictured at a seminar on the public ownership of water in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin, on 17th November. At the event, O'Connor discussed SIPTU's role in the original European Right2Water initiative on the necessity to maintain JLC campaign the public ownership of water and the need for a referendum Page 18 to enshrine this position in the Irish Constitution. O'Connor said: "I commend the Green Party for bringing this issue onto the national stage. The seminar showed that there is a real appetite for putting this issue before the people.”

Workplace committee Page 20 SIPTU calls for HSE interns to be made permanent Revolutionary Tunisia SIPTU has demanded that permanent with immediate ef- “for profit” private employers. To workers employed under the fect.” add insult to injury it has now Page 23 HSE support staff intern Bell also criticised the HSE over been revealed that the agency scheme be made permanent reports that the public service re- spend for this year 2014 will reach with immediate effect in- cruitment embargo has led to the €328m despite the fact that HSE stead of continuing the number of senior health managers Corporate has instructed that no creeping privatisation of the increasing by over 10% while front- agency staff be engaged.” health service. line staff has been reduced by 5%. “It is obvious that no one is ac- Roy Keane idol? SIPTU Health Division Organ- Bell said: “SIPTU members are countable for these actions which Page 30 iser, Paul Bell, said: “The massive shocked by the revelations that, on is unacceptable especially when spend on agency staff by the HSE the one hand, senior managers considering that the HSE will have has reached €328 in 2014. It would have exited the HSE on voluntary a deficit of €361m for 2014 and be much more cost effective for in- redundancy schemes but every has in several cases attempted to terns to be brought into the health post vacated has been filled and in reduce the wages of lower paid service’s permanent staff as they some areas additional senior man- health workers to offset this fig- are clearly are needed and this agers have been recruited. This ure” said Bell. would also allow workers to bene- was done while 3,000 directly em- Bell confirmed that he has for- fit from secure employment condi- ployed frontline jobs were lost and mally advised the HSE that SIPTU’s tions. not replaced creating serious position in this regard is in re- Editor: Frank Connolly, SIPTU Head of Communications “SIPTU will not support any no- stresses in the delivery of services sponse to the agency spend which Journalist: Scott Millar tion of expanding the Support € Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU), Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) & William Hederman and continuity of patient care. runs in excess of 45m per annum Staff scheme beyond the 1,000 po- “I find it staggering that in 2013 for support staff grades and in line Publications Assistant: Deirdre Price sitions agreed under the Hadding- Administrative Assistant: Karen Hackett the HSE spent over €230m on with the Government’s stated pol- ton Road Agreement. I have Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour. agency staff in order to prop up the icy to end the staff recruitment Printed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin. informed the HSE of our position staff recruitment embargo that embargo announced in budget Liberty is dedicated to providing a platform for progressive news and views. that staff employed under the in- only serves to fill the pockets of 2015. If you have any ideas for articles or comments please contact: tern programme to date be made communications@siptu.ie Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 Continued from page 1 – Abolish unfair USC SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King • making progress.” shifting a greater degree of the bur- gradually reducing the level of USC General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn “What is needed is a plan to den to the wealthy and those on in a progressive way that is fo- Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, abolish the USC on a phased basis high incomes on the one hand and cused on low to middle earners.” Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: [email protected] over a period of time. This would deploying a portion of the benefits See page 11 entail a combination of measures of economic growth each year on Liberty 3 News NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

SIPTU with European 2,000 nurses and midwives Parliament to discuss protest against NMBI fee increase LEADER alignment A DELEGATION of Irish to place control of the LEADER community activists and rural development scheme in trade unionists met with the hands of local authority senior European Union of- management. ficials in Brussels on Tues- “This so-called ‘alignment’ of day, 18th November, to community development with discuss the ‘alignment local authorities will result in process’ on the LEADER the closure of Local Develop- rural development scheme. ment Companies. The delegation, which in- “These organisations have a cluded SIPTU Organisers Eddie very important place in their Mullins and Trevor Quinn as communities, administering im- well as representatives of the portant schemes and bringing a INOU, ICTU and the Disability strategic approach to commu- Federation of Ireland, was in- nity and rural development.” vited to visit the EU Parliament He added: “Our positive en- by Sinn Féin MEP, Liadh O’Ri- gagement with the EU officials ada. starkly contrasts with that of SIPTU Sector Organiser, our own Department of Envi- Eddie Mullins, told Liberty: ronment. “We had a positive engagement “Despite repeated requests of- Protest march on 18th November with representatives of the EU ficials from the Department have yet to meet workers’ repre- outside NMBI head office, Secretariat. We informed them Blackrock, Co. Dublin. that substantial job losses will sentatives to discuss the impact PICTURE: Jim Weldon result from Government plans of their ill-thought plans.”

Over 2,000 nurses and mid- President. tered nurse or midwife.” wives, from SIPTU and the SIPTU Sector Organiser, Kevin SIPTU is advising members to INMO, attended a protest on Figgis, said: “In response to the suc- make a payment of €100 to cover Tuesday, 18th November, out- cess of our protest outside their of- their retention fee in the week be- side the head offices of the fices in Blackrock we are ginning Monday, 5th January and Nursing and Midwifery Board encouraging all our members to no later than Friday 9th January of Ireland (NMBI) in Carys- stand together and continue our 2015. The union has also high- fort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. strong and united campaign of op- lighted recent correspondence from Dublin. position to this unjustified NMBI the Department of Health confirm- For over an hour they collectively increase and tax on our members ing that no nurse/midwife can be indicated their outright opposition work. considered, for removal from the to any increase in the NMBI reten- “We will shortly be circulating, to register, for non-payment of the full tion fee above €100. At the protest all workplaces, badges, which mem- increased fee until April despite a letter, detailing nurses and mid- bers can display on their lapel, con- previous intimidatory statements wives opposition to the 50% fee in- firming they have made a payment from NMBI. crease, was handed to the NMBI of €100 and continue to be a regis- Christy’s gig for HSE must replace agency staff with Gaza raises €28k workers who are directly employed A HUGELY successful ben- The Middle East Children’s THE Government must imple- agencies not to use agency staff.” nounced the end of the staff re- efit concert by Christy Alliance (MECA), which pro- ment a policy of replacing He told Liberty: “It is not a sur- cruitment embargo. Moore for the children of vides treatment and medical as- agency workers with directly prise that recruitment agencies However, he warned: “The end- Gaza raised €27,871.41. sistance to traumatised children recruited staff, according to have been the big winners due to ing of the recruitment embargo in Gaza, received the funds the rigid application of the em- alone will not end the reliance on The concert, held at Vicar SIPTU Health Division Organ- raised at the concert. Its direc- bargo on recruiting staff the public agency staff. The Government Street in Dublin on Sunday iser, Paul Bell. tor, Dr Mona Elfarra, expressed “New figures show that €238 service since 2010. must re-direct the monies pro- 12th October, featured Christy, her gratitude to all who at- million was spent on employing Paul Bell pointed out that vided to agency firms to the HSE to Declan Sinnott, Vickie Keating, tended, performed at and or- agency workers in the public SIPTU’s campaign to stop the over- directly recruit staff. Jimmy Higgins and Mick Blake ganised the event which was health service in 2013. This was reliance on agency staff had been “Of course, agency workers cur- as well as poet Paula Meehan also attended by the Palestinian despite an instruction to all man- successful in Budget 2015 when rently employed in these positions and was enjoyed by more than ambassador to Ireland, Ahmad agers across the HSE and related Minister for Public Expenditure could apply for the new direct con- 1,000 people. Abdelrazek. and Reform, Brendan Howlin, an- tract posts.” 4 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 News First move to unwind FEMPI laws welcomed THE Government’s decision to delete nities Division Organiser, Gene Mealy, said: vary workers’ terms and conditions of em- pected to begin early next year.” a section of the FEMPI Act 2009, “The decision to delete this coercive clause ployment. The change agreed by Government in- which gave public service employers in the FEMPI legislation is welcomed by “The decision to begin the unwinding of volves the deletion of Section 2B of the Fi- SIPTU members throughout the public serv- this punitive legislation will provide confi- the ability to cut workers’ core pay nancial Emergency Measures in the Public and adjust working hours without ice. dence to our members working in local au- agreement, has been welcomed by “SIPTU has always opposed the FEMPI leg- thorities, the health service, state agencies Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009, which was intro- SIPTU. islation which provided unacceptable pow- and the education sector before the start of duced as a limited contingency measure in SIPTU Public Administration and Commu- ers to government ministers to unilaterally pay recovery negotiations which are ex- 2013. Homeless crisis top of SIPTU Meath DC agenda A MAJOR initiative will be launched in the New Year by the SIPTU Meath District Council to highlight the need for political action to deal Farmers staged protests outside beef with the growing homeless plants across the country in November crisis. Photo: Photocall Ireland The initiative will be launched at a public meeting in January 2015. At this event Meath County Councillors will debate homeless- ness as well as what measures Compensation sought for beef plant workers should be taken to ensure suitable accommodation is locally available. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John He said the union had also writ- organise is resolved on an indus- SIPTU Meath District Council UNION representatives have Dunne, told Liberty: “Many beef ten to Minister for Agriculture, try-wide basis. President, Anton McCabe, told Lib- started talks with the man- plant workers lost three days Food and the Marine, Simon “While SIPTU members under- erty: “We will be seeking to en- agement of beef plants af- wages during November and Octo- Coveney, seeking trade union rep- courage increased public fected by the recent Irish stand the position of producers ber due to the IFA blockades. resentation on the Beef Forum. and their attempt to get a fair price engagement on this issue. This will Farmers Association (IFA) “SIPTU organisers and Section Dunne added: “A position on for their product, there is concern include public debate on the hous- blockades over compensating Committees will be seeking to this forum would be used to en- ing policy recently announced by have our members compensated that they are not treating the beef employees for loss of earn- sure that the issue of worker rep- plant workers as partners in the in- the SIPTU National Executive ings. for their losses through discus- resentation and their right to Council.” sions with employers.” dustry.” 1916 relatives unveil plans to commemorate Rising centenary THE relatives of the 1916 2016, is the preservation and de- Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann, the leaders have set out an ambi- velopment of the national monu- Relatives of the 1916 leaders, and tious programme of events to ment and surrounding area in other organisations are involved in commemorate the centenary Moore Street as a 1916 Historic this initiative which has all-party of the Easter Rising. and Cultural Quarter. support in the Oireachtas. Among the ambitious proposals A centenary celebration of The Centenary Programme is the re-naming of the Spire in music, theatre, dance and other launched by the Relatives Commit- O’Connell Street in Dublin as An cultural expression will include a tee in Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin on Claidheamh Soluis (Sword of series of concerts in the National Sunday 16th November, also in- O’Connell Street Light), the title of a newspaper Concert Hall during Easter week, cludes a series of exhibitions, tele- Plaque on building in Spire could be published by Padraig Pearse. 2016, which also forms part of the vision and cinema presentations as Moore Street – area renamed under could be developed centenary plans Central to the programme to be Government programme of events. well as education and sports as a cultural quarter rolled out between March and May SIPTU, Conradh na Gaeilge, events. Liberty 5 News NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Opposition grows over Zero hour contracts study announced HE outcome of new vember. SIPTU Services Division sity or where workers do not cuts to research into zero- Organiser, John King, said: “The enjoy the benefits of collective hour and low-hour use of zero-hour contracts is an bargaining. T contracts will be extremely exploitative measure. “Such contracts are a signifi- anti-poverty used to inform new legisla- “Such contracts are used by cant contributor to the level of tion to curtail exploitative unscrupulous employers against in-work poverty and act as an ef- programme employment practices. low-paid vulnerable workers fective poverty trap. The study was announced by who work in sectors and indus- “We welcome a study that will Minister for Business and Em- tries within the economy that do provide hard data on these un- ANUMBER OFpoliticial Welcome announcement: ployment, Ged Nash, in mid-No- not have high trade union den- fair contracts.” parties and TDs have Employment Minister Ged Nash backed a SIPTU call for the Department of Envi- ronment, Community and Local Government to abandon a proposal to cut Dublin’s main anti- poverty programme by more than €740,000 in 2015. The cut is proposed for the Social Inclusion and Commu- nity Activation Programme (SICAP) in Dublin which deliv- ers assistance to people through community organisa- tions across the city. SIPTU shop steward and community worker, Gerard McLaughlin, told Liberty: “The proposed budget alloca- tion for SICAP in 2015 in- cludes a reduction of over €740,000 for the Dublin City Council area. The total pro- SIPTU members on the picket line posed cut to the SICAP pro- outside National Gallery of Ireland gramme nationally is €2 during one-day strike in June PICTURE: Photocall Ireland million.” He added: “If such a cut is imposed, it will have a mas- sive impact on the ability of community organisations to assist those in the greatest National Gallery of Ireland dispute ends need.” A DISPUTE at the National During the summer, SIPTU said: “The negotiated resolution He added: “The innovation of Those who have backed this Gallery of Ireland in members had taken strike action at has been overwhelmingly accepted shop stewards coupled with the call include Sinn Féin, the the gallery, following their rejec- by the SIPTU members in the support of workers in other unaf- Green Party, the Dublin Coun- Dublin has been resolved tion of a Labour Court recommen- Gallery. cil of Trade Unions and Inde- following intensive talks dation, which had sought to “The deal includes the establish- fected grades in the Gallery who remove seven days annual leave ment of a new roster, which is de- refused to pass the picket line was pendent TD Maureen between SIPTU representa- and a long-standing payment for signed to counter the loss of O’Sullivan. SIPTU Community tives and management. St. Stephen’s Day. annual leave days by building in essential in helping to find a reso- Sector Organiser, Darragh SIPTU Organiser, Jason Palmer, extra days off during the year.” lution to this dispute.” O’Connor, said: “Anti-poverty programmes such as SICAP A RECENT lecture by Labour of the early 20th century. have been savaged over the Although born in Liverpool, past six years with funding historian, Emmet Larkin, to O’Connor says Larkin saw himself cuts. Dublin is the area with the SIPTU Dublin District as Irish. the greatest need for the alle- Council on the career of Jim Larkin He said: “Larkin... always saw viation of poverty yet it is tak- Larkin and his place within himself that way. But it should be ing the biggest funding cut.” Irish trade unionism is now borne in mind that he was 33 be- He warned: “Unless the De- available online. fore he first set foot in Ireland in In the lecture, delivered in late partment reverses this deci- lecture 1907. However, he grew up in Tox- October in Liberty Hall, O’Connor sion, community programmes teth which was very much an Irish places Larkin and his strategy of will close in Dublin.” enclave in Liverpool.” sympathetic strikes within the Bronze bust To view the lecture, visit the of Jim Larkin wider context of the British and online SIPTUVideo channel on YouTube European trade union movement 6 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Utilities & Construction Division Biennial Conference

Equality Committee at launch Reversing the tide for workers of ‘Yes2Equality’ campaign

SIPTU Committee calls on members to vote YES on civil marriage equality Photo above: SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn addressing delegates Photo top right, from left to right: Amanda ON Tuesday, November 18th, LGBTQ Network which has been Kavanagh, Jimmy Kavanagh, Ann Ryan SIPTU’s Equality Committee involved in many public events Photo bottom right: Owen Reidy, that have raised SIPTU’s profile. Divisional Organiser adressing conference launched a new ‘Yes2Equal- ity’ campaign which calls on The most notable were the members to vote yes in next ‘Pride’ marches in Belfast and year’s civil marriage equality Dublin and the national ‘March for By Scott Millar referendum. Marriage’ where SIPTU led the first ever trade union bloc on the Reclaiming the ground He added: “All of us in this plementation of “full demo- Ethel Buckley, SIPTU's National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, march. that workers have lost room have an opportunity to cratic participation in decision- highlighted the importance of the The Network, which has also or- during he economic crisis make a real difference, to leave making.” Yes2Equality Campaign, ganised training events in conjunc- was the theme of the things better and stronger than Delegates attended work- She told Liberty: “SIPTU can help tion with the Legal Rights Unit and SIPTU Utilities and Con- when we found them. Our shops on union organising, struction Biennial Confer- make history in Ireland by cam- cause is a great cause and one shop steward training and the paigning for a “Yes” vote to extend By voting yes ence held in Liberty Hall we should be proud to be part use of strike as a tool today. on 21st-22nd November. the rights and responsibilities of of, one for the common good.” The restrictions placed on civil marriage to all who wish to members will be In his first keynote speech as Delegates gave a warm wel- strike action by the 1990 In- make that choice. Division Organiser, Owen according same come to Jesse Hughes and Ray dustrial Relations Act domi- “It’s important that trade union Reidy, said that activists must O’Reilly, representatives of the nated discussion at the members and activists, including sex couples the be prepared to use their indus- Greyhound Recycling and Re- workshop on strikes. Sector first-time voters, get out there and trial power to reverse the ero- covery workers who were in- Organiser, Adrian Kane, also vote for civil marriage equality in right to equality. sion of pay and conditions that volved in a 15-week lockout raised the issue of the willing- the interest of justice in society.” Members can help has occurred over recent years. during 2014. They also passed ness of younger people to With thousands of lesbian, gay He said: “We must be pre- a motion calling on the union cross official picket lines when and bi-sexual members in every motivate and pared to ballot for action to to use all its “influence in se- this would have been frowned Sector and Division of our union, mobilise workers promote our just aims and am- curing and supporting the re- upon by previous generations. LGBT rights in the workplace are bitions in the future if talking quired legislation that would The final day of the confer- an important issue. to get out and vote. and negotiating fails. introduce a Joint Labour Com- ence saw a lively debate on By voting “Yes” in the referen- They can also “As Andy Stern the US trade mittee for the Waste Manage- Irish Water. A number of dele- dum trade union members will be union leaders says, ‘We must ment Industry thus avoiding a gates called on the union to according same-sex couples the encourage their use the power of persuasion, potential race to the bottom.” mobilise members to take part right to equality. SIPTU members friends and family but if that fails use the persua- Other motions passed in- in the Right2Water ‘People’s can help motivate and mobilise workers to get out and vote. They sion of power’.” cluded; “opposing the frag- Assembly” outside the Dáil on can also encourage their friends out to vote “Yes” However, Reidy said that the mentation and underfunding 10th December. There was also Division’s use of its industrial and family out to vote yes. of transport services by the general support for a campaign the Membership Information and power must be done in an in- It is vital to ensure that SIPTU is Government and the National to ensure water supply and Support Centre, has appeared on telligent manner, which sup- a dynamic, visible and vocal advo- Transport Authority”; support services remain in public own- numerous TV and radio shows and ported the wider strategy of cate for the diverse workforce for the SIPTU campaign to se- ership. which now characterises our coun- built links with LGBT groups in improving services and infra- cure Collective Bargaining The conference was also ad- try. LGBT workers are central to other trade unions and non-gov- structure for all workers. Rights for all workers, and one dressed by the three national that diversity. ernmental organisations. “We must use disputes that calling for a lobbying campaign officers of SIPTU, the Presi- In terms of the workplace, the To get involved with the gain publicity to create a wider to ensure a minimum of 40% dent of the Utilities and Con- right to work in an environment Yes2Equality Campaign, or to re- narrative, for example on state women representation on struction Division, Tommy where one can be fully open about quest a speaker from the campaign subvention and funding for State Boards by 2016. Wynne and historian Francis their sexuality without fear of dis- to speak at a union meeting, public transport rather than The last motion also called Devine on the Labour Move- crimination or harassment is the contact the Campaigns and Equal- exclusively about our mem- for an “end to political patron- ment 1913 to 1916. number one issue confronting Ire- ity Unit on campaigns+equal- bers’ conditions and pay.” age and cronyism” and the im- land’s LGBT people. [email protected] or follow us on SIPTU is proud to have a vibrant twitter #SIPTUequality. Liberty 7 Public Administration Division Biennial Conference NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Privatisation biggest threat to public services

By Scott Millar THE battle against the pri- vatisation of vital public serv- ices and utilities was central to debate at the two-day Bi- ennial SIPTU Public Adminis- tration and Community Division Conference on 5th- 6th November. Addressing delegates, SIPTU Public Administration and Com- munity Division Organiser, Gene Mealy, said: “As we emerge from this crisis we have an opportunity to change people’s attitude to soci- ety and in particular to the deliv- ery of good quality public services.” Mealy highlighted the threat from privatisation and outsourc- ing, describing the latter as the Motion on public ownership of water supply sparked a lively debate “greatest threat to the delivery of good quality public services”. He said that these threats were particularly evident in the Commu- nity Sector, which did not enjoy the protections negotiated as part of the Haddington Road Agree- ment. The current national debate around the setting up of Irish Water produced the liveliest dis- cussion at the conference. An emergency motion was pro- posed by the SIPTU Local Authori- ties Sector calling on delegates to back the call for a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of water supply in the Constitution. The motion was unanimously supported following a vigorous de- bate during which some delegates called for support for the Right2Water campaign and voiced NERI researcher Micheál opposition to water charges. Collins gave presentation Speaking in support of a motion calling for collective bargaining for Community Sector workers, ac- restoration campaign, an ending of 3,000 workers had joined the workers.” The SIPTU Youth Work- dressed by historian, Brian Hanley, tivist Barbara Kearns said: “We the public service recruitment SIPTU community sector in the ers’ network was highlighted as an on the impact of the First World must stop the race to the bottom in wages and conditions in the moratorium and support for the past two years. He told delegates: example of the successful organi- War on the Irish working class. He Community Sector.” SIPTU Secure Retirement Cam- “We are building a union where ac- sation of workers through actions said that the conflict should not be Other motions supported by del- paign. SIPTU National Organiser, tivists are making decisions, are and political struggle. glorified but remembered with a egates included a call for a pay Joe Cunningham, reported that leading campaigns and winning for The conference was also ad- sense of “rage and anger”. Congress launches Disability Activation Project RETURNING to work follow- illness seeking new employment work-related programmes. The into the workforce and new em- ers wish to return to workplace ac- ing a period of illness or as well as those wishing to return courses run over six weeks with a ployers can also avail of a wage tivity no matter how severe the ob- while dealing with the effects to their previous work. two-week work placement.” grant subsidy. stacles may seem. It should be a of physical or mental trauma Programme Manager and Con- The courses are held in Congress SIPTU Organiser and Disability priority that SIPTU organisers and can be one of the most diffi- gress official, Sylvia Ryan, told Lib- resource centres around the Bor- Committee member, Michelle activists familiarise themselves cult periods of a worker’s ca- erty: “The Disability Activation der, Midlands and Western region, Quinn, said: "We very much wel- with what is on offer through this reer. Project is targeted at people with a with 390 places available from Jan- come this Congress initiative. It is Congress initiative so members To assist workers finding them- disability, aged 16 to 65 years, and uary 2015. Some of the people essential that where possible who could benefit from it are selves in this position, Congress is receiving disability/illness welfare who have taken the course have workers have help in returning to given the opportunity to partici- now offering training and support payments. gone on to become course trainers their work or finding new employ- pate." as part of a pilot scheme in the “The project aims to increase the within Congress centres. ment after a period of illness or For further information see Border, Midlands and Western re- capacity of people with disabilities Payments are also available to while coping with a disability.” www.ictu.ie or ontact Programme gion. The scheme is open to work- in a range of personal develop- employers to offset some of the She added: “If properly sup- Manager, Sylvia Ryan at ers with a disability or long-term ment, Information Technology and costs of bringing a worker back ported the vast majority of work- [email protected]. 8 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Manufacturing Division Biennial Conference Manufacturing conference focus on pay rises By Scott Millar ising migrant workers, SIPTU Or- THE fight to secure pay ganiser, Evelina Saduikyte, told the rises as well as using social conference: “From interaction media for union organising with migrant workers in union or- ganising campaigns we have come dominated discussions at to the view that many still do not the SIPTU Manufacturing understand what unions are about. Biennial Conference. To help overcome this it was de- Talks by international guests, cided to produce this video...” lively debate on motions and mu- SIPTU activist, Rachael Mathews sical performances were all packed McKay, of the SIPTU LBGTQ Net- into the one-day conference in work, informed delegates of the Liberty Hall, Dublin on Friday, 7th union’s work in support of the November. marriage equality campaign which The conference, attended by 200 is focused on securing a ‘Yes’ vote delegates, opened on a musical in the forthcoming referendum on note, with a rendition of the the issue. Christy Moore song, Ordinary The conference also heard from Man, by Paul dePuis, accompanied Tony Murphy of the IDEAS insti- by Tony Murphy on guitar. tute on his work with SIPTU mem- Introducing the Manufacturing bers and employers on finding Division Executive Review, Divi- innovative ways of working to- sion Organiser, Gerry McCormack, gether. said: “The Division’s pay strategy Among the other speakers who was first developed in the Pharma- addressed the conference were ceuticals, Chemicals and Medical SIPTU General President, Jack Devices Sector and later extended O’Connor, SIPTU Vice-President, to other sectors of the Division. It Patricia King, ICTU President, John Gerry McCormack, Manufacturing has secured over 234 pay agree- Douglas, and EFFAT Food, Drink Division Organiser introduces the ments since 2011 of on average 2% and Tobacco Political Secretary, Es- Manufacturing Division Executive per annum.” telle Brentnall. Review at conference He added: “SIPTU estimates that these pay increase have applied to over 50,000 workers across the manufacturing industry and the number of agreements is increas- ing on a weekly basis.” Supporting Quality campaign di- rector, Fabia Gavin, told delegates that the initiative, which began in the Manufacturing Division two years ago, now has the endorse- ment of 57 brands and is expected to expand further next year. Delegates discussed five motions at the conference including a call for the introduction of a fairer PRSI system, the setting up of a social media training course and the de- SIPTU Vice-President mand that retired members are Patricia King given a secure retirement. Conference workshop addresses delegates Introducing a video about organ- DELEGATE VIEW DELEGATE VIEW Tommy Ryan Maggie Dembinska Rexam Beverage Can Hollister, Ireland Ltd, Waterford Ballina “The most important issue that was “It is very important that immi- discussed at the conference was the grants are encouraged to join SIPTU structure of the union and how it has and I think it was great that this changed. Delegates were given an issue was raised at the conference. opportunity to review that and They are afraid to join for the very members could tell the organisers simple reason that they believe that where they believe the transition to the new structure is falling down. I if they join the union they will lose believe that the sector system is a their jobs. So what is needed is edu- better one but I believe where we are cation about what we are doing, falling down is on communication. I how we do it and that we can sup- believe that greater use of social media port and protect people in their is needed so that people know nearly jobs.” immediately when the union is getting wins.” Liberty 9 Comment NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Why good governance matters

By Vic Duggan

N A political world of su- perficial sound bites and self-aggrandising short- I termism, it may not arouse the passions like the ‘back pocket’ issues of budget day, but the importance of what policy wonks call ‘good governance’ goes far beyond ensuring politicians don’t lose the run of themselves with their expense accounts. And it’s not just because “Paddy likes to know the story”, as an Taoiseach put it! Poor planning, regulatory fail- ure, auction politics, weak leader- ship, have combined to undermine Podemos rally in Spain, the institutions of the State and to May 2014 push Ireland to the brink – and be- yond – of economic catastrophe for the second time in a generation. may become increasingly alienated calised housing shortages, com- sible decision-making to accom- As a result, the people have lost from the political process, turning pounded by infrastructure that pany the modest increase in power trust in political parties and public inward towards their circle of makes a Jackson Pollock painting heralded by limited control over institutions. And, while the major- friends and family for support look joined-up. In turn, this risks setting the property tax. ity once looked to the EU for salva- rather than to a State they feel has In Ireland, the so-called demo- tion – solidarity, structural funds breeding cynicism failed them. cratic revolution of 2011 has Thankfully, Charlie McCreevy’s and progressive social legislation – Why does this matter? proved to be still-born. At national ‘decentralisation’ wheeze has been now they see a more transactional and further Bad governance may be tolerated level, the political system remains consigned to an early grave. relationship. It’s akin to being in good times, and there is little largely unchanged. Clientelism, lo- What we need now is not a ‘demo- trapped in a bad marriage for the undermining the short-term reward for taking away calism, and short-termism remain cratic revolution’, but for citizens – sake of the kids. the punch bowl while the party is the order of the day. and politicians in particular – to Politically, this is manifested in raging, but the longer-term social, The Seanad continues its exis- legitimacy and really ‘stand by the Republic’. The the rise of Sinn Féin and there are economic and environmental costs tence as something of a political those populist independents who capacity of the can be significant. zombie – no real threat to anyone, Progressive Democrats may have have zero real interest in governing Weak, malign or incompetent in- but not making much in the way of later ushered extreme neo-liberal- the country. stitutions can constrain economic a constructive contribution. It has ism into the heart of Irish govern- This tendency towards political very apparatus of growth while complicating efforts been further demeaned by botched ment, but it should not be extremes and widespread disen- to ensure its benefits are broadly efforts to abolish it, and then to forgotten how they initially ‘broke chantment is not confined to Ire- government shared and imposing irreversible stuff it with cronies. land, and in fact pre-dates the damage on the world we live. Cabinet remains relatively unac- the mould’ of Irish politics as a economic crisis. The far right has To take just one un-sexy exam- countable to the Dáil. The cabinet- middle class backlash against the been on the rise across Europe ple: planning, one of the few areas within-a-cabinet that is the ethically bankrupt court of Charlie since the turn of the century, to where local politicians in Ireland Economic Management Council Haughey. Ireland has already recov- the point that the National Front do have real power, albeit often has certainly streamlined decision- ered once from the fallout from Fi- and UKIP now lead in some polls wielded irresponsibly, with a few making, but at the cost of further In turn, this risks breeding cyni- anna Fáil misrule. We can do it in France and Britain. honourable exceptions. centralisation of power. cism and further undermining the Eurozone countries hit hardest As a result, the country is Reforms to local government are again, but we can do it better than by the crisis have seen a rise in legitimacy and capacity of the very plagued by urban sprawl, one-off still bedding in, but there is little the PD’s, and we can do it fairer! leftist populists, with Podemos apparatus of government. People housing, ghost estates and lo- evidence yet of a surge in respon- and Syriza polling well in Spain and Greece, while Bepe Grillo’s idiosyncratic 5-star movement burned brightly in Italy for a time and remains on the scene. Bad governance may be tolerated in good times, and there is One common element to these disparate developments is the de- cline in citizens’ trust in main- little short-term reward for taking away the punch bowl while stream politicians to improve their living standards and to give par- the party is raging, but the longer-term social, economic and ents confidence that their children will have the same or better oppor- environmental costs can be significant tunities than they had. 10 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Economy

By Daragh McCarthy

HE employment fig- ures are one of the The crisis of most important indi- T cators of economic health and, as the year draws to a close, it is worth taking stock of some of the key de- velopments in this area over under employed the past number of months. Broadly, the headline figures re- main encouraging, but issues around the quality of work on offer, the availability of sufficient youth working hours and youth unem- ployment present considerable challenges for workers and the economy as a whole. The overall employment figures cides having some job – be it low people unemployed is among the sion and poorer health. created for those that complete the show the number of people work- skilled, poorly paid or with few highest in the EU and there is data The increased uses of activation various programmes, the schemes ing grew by 3.2%, just over 58,000 guaranteed hours – is better than to suggest that many of these peo- schemes in response to high levels are not providing a real, lasting im- people, in 2013. Though employ- having no job; they take up em- ple have been unemployed for a of unemployment has impacted on provement for people. ment is still rising, the figures for ployment, but remain actively long period of time – with 24,000 a large number of people across all The past couple of years have 2014 are less positive. The opening seeking new job opportunities. young people on the live register age groups – see Table 1 – though seen real gains in employment, but six months of the year saw a 0.3% Currently, there are 129,700 peo- for one year or more. changes in the structure of Job- a higher level of job growth is re- increase, 5,500 people, in the num- ple classified as underemployed. At an economic level, high youth seeker Allowance, reducing pay- quired for the foreseeable future. ber of people at work. There are a number of reasons to unemployment often results in ment until participation occurs, Beyond this, there are significant These numbers say nothing be concerned about underemploy- less productivity, as there are fewer have singled out young people in about the quality of the additional ment, even in the context of high opportunities for young workers to particular. work being created, but the CSO’s unemployment. It is a waste of ex- bring new skills and innovation Activation schemes have the ef- Underemployment data indicates the jobs added in perience and skills gained through into the workplace. fect of reducing the headline un- is a waste of 2013 tended to be part-time and education and acts as a drag on On a personal level, there a large employment figure, currently 11%. concentrated in construction and weekly wages – compounding a sit- body of evidence that points to the However, unless there are an ade- experience and skills services, while the uptake in em- uation where people are unable to heightened risks of social exclu- quate number of paying jobs being gained through ployment during 2014 seems to be meet their basic needs through largely based in higher paying sec- work. Table 1: Age profile of participants on selected activation schemes, September 2014 education and acts Addressing the social and eco- Back to Enterprise CE tors of the economy offering full- JobBridge Tús as a drag on weekly time positions. nomic issues raised by underem- Education Allowance Schemes ployment will be important to wages compounding While the rise in the number of Under 25 4086 270 1278 997 572 people in work is welcome, there raising living standards and sus- a situation where taining the recovery, particularly are a number of challenges cloaked 25-29 3953 1112 1434 883 1653 people are unable to by the significant recovery in the given the concerns around the con- tinued introduction of zero hour meet their basic headline figures over the past 18 30-34 2425 2329 987 972 1965 months. Among these underlying contracts. needs through work Despite the recent improve- issues, insufficient working hours 35-39 1711 2123 681 953 2523 and youth unemployment are two ment, the economy is still strug- gling to provide a sufficient areas of particular concern. 40-44 1207 1804 474 946 2853 challenges in the areas of adequate People classified as part-time un- number of jobs. Currently, there working hours and youth unem- are 24 unemployed people for each deremployed are those who are 45-49 833 1340 366 882 2934 ployment. looking to work additional hours, vacancy. This is a problem for With an expected growth rate of everyone looking for work, but but who are unable to find a job 50-54 477 921 287 863 2999 roughly 5%, the Irish economy is that provides them with what they makes it particularly difficult for performing well this year. There is young people who have relatively want. 55-59 261 532 166 692 4153 much evidence to suggest that a little work experience. Underemployment statistics substantial increase in job growth The youth unemployment rate touch on both the quality and 60-64 102 267 56 296 2956 will follow. in Ireland over the opening nine quantity of work available to a siz- While this is badly needed, it is months of the year averaged at just able group of employees. Under- 65 & over 3 39 4 10 333 important to remain attentive to over 25%. With 47,500 people employment often points to a the issues behind the headline fig- under the age of 25 currently out situation where an individual de- Total 15058 10746 5733 7494 22941 ures. of work, the proportion of young Daragh McCarthy is a Research and Source: Central Statistics Office Administration Officer at NERI

7.30 p.m. until 29th November After show contributions from: Liberty 11 Liberty View NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Liberty By JACK O’CONNOR SIPTU General President View Time to Abolish the USC

The Universal Social Charge (USC) 8%. However, they will benefit from the re- in tax reliefs. However, about two-thirds of was introduced in Budget 2011 by the duction of the 41% tax rate to 40%. this was absorbed by decreasing the top rate (from 41% to 40%) and increasing the then Fianna Fáil - Green Party coali- A measure of this nature which does not standard rate band by €1000. Overall, this tion in what was clearly understood discriminate between the level paid by benefitted only about 16% of income earn- as one of the many measures de- people on very low incomes and those at ers. The remainder, about €230 million net, signed to address the collapse in the the higher levels would be described as a was absorbed by the changes in the USC. State’s revenues as the result of the “flat tax” in some countries or a “propor- It should have been the other way around. financial crisis. Set at 7% for the ma- tionate tax” but it would never be de- jority of taxpayers it replaced the scribed as “progressive”. The major problem with bringing about a health levy (which yielded 4%) and restructuring of the method of raising state the income levy (2%). It originally ap- revenue is that the vast majority of income earners, about 80%, fall within the standard plied to all incomes over €4000 per Therefore, it would be rate band threshold. Therefore, reducing annum. In subsequent budgets, the necessary to replace it with the rate at which USC is deducted has an current government has raised the enormous impact on the public finances threshold so that those on less than other measures to generate while yielding very little in terms of relief € 12,012 will be exempt with effect revenue from wealth and for those affected. from 1st January next. those on higher incomes What is needed is a plan to abolish the USC on a phased basis over a period of time. This would entail a combination of measures shifting a greater degree of the The USC is a tax measure burden to the wealthy and those on high It plays a crucial role in the generation of which is at odds with the revenue for the State as it is projected to generally progressive raise just in excess of €4 billion in 2015. Ac- cordingly, it cannot be abolished in one fell What is needed is a plan character of the PAYE swoop without enormous consequences for to abolish the USC on a system those who depend on public services. Therefore, it would be necessary to replace phased basis over a period it with other measures to generate revenue from wealth and those on higher incomes. of time Even in that context it can only be phased The USC is a tax measure which is at odds out gradually. with the generally progressive character of Apart from re-distributing the burden so the PAYE system in that a person on the incomes on the one hand and deploying a that the better off contribute more, pro- minimum wage pays at the same level i.e. portion of the benefits of economic growth jected levels of economic growth over the 7% as those at the top of the income spec- each year on gradually reducing the level next few years, if they are realised, will trum. This will change slightly from Janu- of USC in a progressive way that is focused offer the possibility of beginning the job. ary as the result of Budget 2015 as those on low to middle earners. Budget 2015 provided about €630 million earning in excess of €70,044 will then pay 12 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Comment

Keeping the public water supply public WHICH IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD?

many left-leaning political par- the general taxation system SIPTU members. Or should we who’s afraid to take a second By ties and community organisa- which is progressive and fair pay for water as a collective and bath in a week, Dave Gibney tions. and is based on your ability to treat water as a public good in- • You cannot put a price on a We have one belief – that pay. stead of a commodity? single mother’s anguish about water is a human right; and one In the recent Budget, the telling her children not to flush objective – that water charges Government gave tax conces- the toilet, and ANDATE mem- should be abolished. sions (€405m according to • You cannot put a value on bers cannot af- We are told water charges are NERI) to some of the top 17% of a low-paid worker’s fear of the ford water being implemented because we earners while forcing water You cannot put a next water bill coming through Mcharges. Many need better conservation, more charges on the most disadvan- the door when they’re already of our members – low-paid funding for our infrastructure taged. cost on the anxiety in mortgage arrears. retail workers – are in- cluded in the Irish League and we need off-balance sheet More than €500m is being of a pensioner These social impacts do not of Credit Unions’ most re- spent on installing water me- who’s afraid to translate on to spreadsheets ters, consultants, public rela- (they’re off-balance sheet for cent ‘What’s Left’ tracker, take a second which showed 483,000 We believe tions experts and an expensive want of a better phrase) so the people surveyed have advertising campaign. That is a bath in a week, question remains: what type of nothing left at the end of conservation combined total of almost €1bn society do we want to live in? the month after paying es- should take that could have been spent fix- One which gives birth to a sential bills and 1.76 mil- ing leaks where we lose more new type of poverty – water lion people have €100 or place through the than 40% of all treated water poverty – and a new set of anx- less left once all bills are provision of grants before it gets to our taps. That You can have the smartest ieties which is confined to the paid. for water saving would have shown real conser- economists in the world argu- poorest in our society, or one Over the past two years, ap- vation concern. ing which method of paying for where we ask the wealthiest in- proximately 90% of Mandate devices and We believe, even if al- water is more economically vi- dividuals and corporations to members have won pay in- through educa- lowances and credits and other able, but the crux of the prob- pay that little bit more for the creases of up to six percent – alleviation measures are ini- lem is this: common good. In Mandate totalling more than €30m for tion, instead of tially granted, they will be • You cannot put a cost on we’re choosing the latter under 40,000 workers. dehydration. eroded and withdrawn over the anxiety of a pensioner the Right2Water banner. However, these hard-fought time. We also believe water will for improvements in pay have Dave Gibney is a eventually be privatised and Communications been wiped out by the Local turned into a for-profit indus- Officer at Mandate Property Tax and now our accounting practices. try. members are expected to pay The problem is most people When you look past all of the unfair and regressive water don’t believe these are the real complexities, this is about two charges. motives. things. How we pay for essen- That’s why in January 2014, Notwithstanding the fact that tial services (and there’s almost one of our local branches the new ‘regime’ is a flat charge nothing more essential to the drafted a motion calling for a which undermines the Govern- preservation of life than water) campaign against water ment’s argument about conser- and what type of vision we charges. This motion was unan- vation, we believe conservation have for our society. imously endorsed at our Bien- should take place through the Should we pay for water nial Delegate Conference (BDC) provision of grants for water through a consumption charge in April culminating in Man- saving devices and through edu- which disproportionately im- date’s involvent in the cation, instead of dehydration. pacts those on social welfare, Right2Water campaign. Does our water infrastructure those living in poverty, pen- Right2Water is a broad-based need upgrading? Of course, but sioners and those on low pay, umbrella group co-ordinated by that should be paid for through including Mandate and many trade unions and supported by Liberty 13 Comment NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Keeping the public water supply public

to establish Irish Water as a the Government to disregard duced a social welfare, “Conser- scenario the same forces that By publicly owned commercial en- somewhere between €550m vation Allowance”, probably a were deeply disappointed be- terprise, partially funded by and €800m of the expenditure better mechanism but it is not cause we were able to get the Jack O’Connor charges. We could not prevent in water from the national ac- remotely sufficient to cover the protection of the jobs of 4,000 them from doing so. Conse- counts. This then enabled it to cost of peoples “normal domes- water supply workers en- e agree with quently, we fell back on getting spend that amount (estimated tic need” for water. shrined in law and who can ex- virtually every- an Agreement to protect our at about double the projected Our approach has nothing ercise powerful influence in thing in David members’ employment against revenue from water charges) on whatsoever to do with the the media will swing into ac- Gibney’s arti- the privatisation of their work. the provision of essential pub- Labour Party as some like to tion. Privatisation will be pre- W We clearly saw the results cle – except that there is a very great danger that the when it happened in the bin strategy he is advocating service. Thousands of reason- will not end up where it ably good jobs were lost and wages and conditions have de- aims to go. teriorated to deplorable levels. Apart from representing tens Moreover, tens of thousands of of thousands of low to middle low-income households who income workers, SIPTU also or- had waivers lost them and ganised 4,000 members em- must now pay the full cost to ployed in the delivery of the enhance the profits of private public water supply. The great operators. majority of them are also lower In addition to trying to get an paid. They initiated the original Agreement to protect our mem- Right2Water campaign. It fo- bers’ jobs against privatisation cused on the provision of high we developed the idea of the quality water for everyone as a refundable tax credit. This was basic human right and its reten- designed to ensure that every tion under public control and household would get the water ownership. they required to meet all their In a clear policy position artic- normal domestic needs at no ulated through Congress in Feb- cost. By rendering the tax credit ruary 2012 we opposed the “refundable” it would mean lic services, like social housing suggest. It is because our mem- sented as a better alternative to commercialisation of water. In- that people on low pay or on and employing teachers, spe- bers who are employed in the increasing tax. In these circum- stead, we argued that the addi- social welfare who do not earn cial needs assistants and health provision of the public water stances we could slide into the tional billions of euro required enough to get the full benefit of care workers as well as releas- supply are fearful that the cur- privatisation of the public over the next twenty years it would get a cheque from the rent direction of things will re- water supply. That is why we should be deployed through a Revenue for the difference. sult in privatisation and the are calling for a referendum to democratically controlled Water The reason we adopted this consequent loss of thousands prohibit such a disaster. Authority that would co-ordi- roundabout approach was be- of reasonably good jobs. We So, we are prepared to work nate the activity of all the local cause one of the arguments agree with their analysis and with everybody in the trade councils. used to justify the introduction Privatisation apart from the rights of the union movement and civil soci- The Government did not ac- of charges was that it allowed workers in the water service we ety to campaign for a right to cept our approach and decided will be know that privatisation would water to meet every house- presented as be a catastrophe for everyone hold’s domestic needs at no who lives in Ireland. cost. This can be done through a better The fear is that it will come a proper social welfare conser- alternative to about because Irish Water as a vation allowance in the short commercial entity will run into term facilitating the re-designa- increasing tax. liquidity (cash flow) difficulties tion of Irish Water as a demo- or even insolvency due to its in- cratically controlled water ability to collect its revenues. authority over the lifetime of Ironically, this will not happen the next government. This during the lifetime of this Gov- would allow charges to be dis- ernment but early in that of the pensed with and replaced by a ing resources for tax relief. We next one. Then the Govern- simple tariff on non-essential lobbied extensively throughout ment of the day will immedi- or wasteful use. Such a cam- this year to persuade them to ately be faced with the need to paign must also prioritise the introduce the refundable tax increase taxation or cut spend- demand for a referendum to credit mechanism in the ing or both, to take it back on prohibit privatisation. Budget. In the end, they intro- the State balance sheet. In that 14 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Comment

Keeping the public water supply public

Our resistance to this form of • Water services must be privatisation has continued to localised for direct access by By this day as successive govern- When SIPTU citizens to maintenance and Michael Wall ments have steadily moved learned of water control to the private sec- support; tor. In line with all our sister HAVING concluded the the proposal The SIPTU Local Authority unions across Europe we believe major European campaign Sector represents 17,000 mem- the removal of water from mu- under the European bers in local government who to create an nicipal control is a fundamental Right2Water campaign are the people who produce and which collected nearly two Irish Water, deliver water and sanitation. mistake. Our objective is to see million signatures across This is public ownership! this reversed and water and san- the EU, SIPTU has worked we firmly Since 2010, when SIPTU itation to be delivered produced with European unions to learned of the proposal to create and maintained by public serv- challenge the efforts to resisted it. an Irish Water, we firmly resis- commodify water at Euro- ted it. ice workers. pean level. Likewise, we warned against Currently, the local authori- The European trade union the logic of removing the water ties remain the exclusive bodies movement used an article holding off this effort but the assets from local government in the delivery of water and the within the Lisbon Treaty to acti- (and with it democratic control battle must continue to ensure network – we will fight to main- vate the European Citizens Ini- water is protected from privati- and accountability) and the in- tiative to target the efforts of the sation. troduction of metering (in the • Access for all to quality tain this position and alongside European Commission to liber- The SIPTU campaign against short term). We also warned water service. Free water to other unions within the sector alise the water sector allowing privatisation has gone on for that the time frame was totally cover all domestic use; and across Europe continue the EU competition rules to apply to unrealistic. • Conservation of this finite more than 10 years. In 2006, we campaign of resistance to pri- it. This would have effectively commissioned the University of The SIPTU campaign to main- resource by effective and equi- opened the gates to full privati- Limerick to produce the first re- tain public water includes: table volumetric control; vatisation. sation. port on the role of Public Private • Referendum to keep water • Governance of the utility to Michael Wall is a Sector Organiser in As a result of this campaign, Partnerships in the Irish Water and sanitation in public owner- include civic society groups by the SIPTU Public Administration & we have been successful in Sector. ship; right on its board; Utilities Division.

SIPTU National Executive Council response to the Government’s policy on public water supply

Friday, 21st November 2014

The Government’s initiative of 19th Policy on the development of the public water due, for example, to the inability of Irish Water to supply should not be decided in the context of a collect its revenues. In this regard, we welcome the November 2014, while offering clarity fiscal austerity programme, which is now totally decision of the Executive Council of the Irish Con- and certainty on water charges, will unnecessary in any event. It calls for a properly gress of Trade Unions to support, promote and not provide a comprehensive long- informed and structured public debate. If the cur- campaign for such a referendum. rent projections for economic growth are achieved, Therefore, in the absence of a declaration by the term solution for the challenges con- Irish Water could be re-designated as a democrat- Government of its intention to provide every fronting the development of the ically controlled Water Authority or a non-com- household with an adequate supply of water to public water system. mercial semi-state company within the lifetime of meet all its domestic needs at no direct cost, while Its most immediate flaw is that the charges the next government, without further increasing retaining a tariff on non-essential use only and to regime remains regressive in character. The objec- taxation or cutting public spending. This would legislate for a Referendum to prohibit privatisa- tive should be to provide every household with an enable charges to be dispensed with altogether, re- tion, we will work with other trade unions and adequate supply of water to meet all their domes- taining a tariff on non-essential use only. civil society organisations, including those in- tic needs at no direct cost, while retaining the op- We must have a Referendum to insert a provi- volved in Right2Water, to campaign through peace- tion of a tariff on non-essential use only as a sion in the Constitution prohibiting the privatisa- ful protests and other democratic actions, to conservation measure. The Government should tion of the public water supply. Otherwise, there achieve these objectives. announce its intention to do this. is a real danger that we will drift into privatisation Liberty 15 Supporting Quality NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Workers on the production line at the Zip factory in Castlebellingham in Co Louth, from left to right; Sarah Shearman, Declan Hoey, Thomas Faulkner and Janice Eager; below left: shop steward, Gerry Gilfedder; below right: factory director Denis McCourt Keeping the home fires burning

VERY snow cloud has a Molloy, a machine operator, says: ployer; it helps the local GAA club rently I work in the stores but I could cess is “getting the right products, silver lining for the “I’ve worked here for 19 years. I and has contributed to different go back on the lines. We’re flexible making sure it does not damage the workers at the Zip come from a family of 18, and down events in schools and other commu- in that sense. We can all multi-task”. environment and making sure every- manufacturing plant in through the years 10 of us would nity events. When I started working According to factory director, Denis thing is safe for the workers.” have worked here. Four are working here, I worked on the lines but cur- McCourt, the secret of the plant’s suc- “Our major market has always ECastlebellingham, Co Louth. As here at the moment”. been Ireland. We’re also very big in Ireland’s leading producer of The plant's existence has sup- the UK, France, Belgium and a lot of firelighters and fire logs, pro- ported the local community through I’ve worked here over 25 years. other European countries. We have duction increases as tempera- difficult times. Declan Hoey has always been in Canada and we’ve tures drop and people seek the worked in the plant for 18 years “My It is a good company and a good now launched in America. This year comfort of an open fire. father, my brother and two sisters we have launched into Australia, A member of the SIPTU-endorsed have worked here in the past,” he employer; it helps the local GAA South Africa, Brazil and the Middle Supporting Quality campaign, the says. “Working here made it possible East.” Castlebellingham plant has been in for people to stay in the area. It’s club and has contributed to For the company, research and de- operation since the 1950s. It em- been vital to Castlebellingham”. velopment is crucial to our success. ploys an overwhelmingly local work- The plant also utilises local pro- different events in schools and “The way we work is to produce the force from the surrounding north duce in its production process. Mark other community events best quality product in the market,” Louth area, although this includes Murray, who works in the fire log says Denis. workers that are originally from East- production unit, says: “The logs are “When we go to a market we take ern Europe, Brazil and India. made from willow grown on farms the best quality products there and “It is very much a local workforce,” across the north-east. The willow is test them here. Really what you need says factory supervisor, Bernard Cor- chopped up and mixed with natural is the longest burning time. We pride rigan, “There are a few from the waxes. Once blended together it is ourselves on Zip being a quality Ardee direction, which is about 15 then moulded into a log that you put product that lights first time, every miles away, but most are from the into a fire and heats up your house”. time. immediate vicinity. The whole area The development of the fire log “We can make firelighters based is involved in the plant, I would say manufacturing unit, which opened on consumer needs from a six to nearly everybody that is in the hous- in 2010 and last year produced more seven minutes burning time to the ing estates around here has a family than three million logs, is just one of latest one which is being brought out member who has worked in the the innovations the plant has seen in in Ireland, the Super Starter, which plant at some stage”. recent years. SIPTU shop steward, burns for 28 minutes.” During the winter months the Gerry Gilfedder said: “The business A local manufacturer with a global workforce can increase to 150 em- is always trying for new markets, reach and a fully unionised work- ployees, working three shifts over a always bringing in new machines force, Zip is the type of company that 24-hour period, as demand increases which ensure the viability of the is helping to build a sustainable Irish for firelighters and logs. company.” economy. It is the type of company For many employees, working in “I’ve worked here over 25 years. It that deserves your backing as part of the plant is a family tradition. Janice is a good company and a good em- the Supporting Quality campaign. 16 Liberty Liberty 17 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Supporting Quality NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 18 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 JLC Campaign

The hospitality sector goes to great lengths to suggest that this measure, and this measure alone, has been responsible for increased employment in this sector over re- cent years, entirely dismissing the Hospitality sector back in much greater impact that other measures such as exchange rate movements, abolition of the travel tax and “The Gathering” in 2013 have had. SIPTU Divisional Organiser John King points out that the shortage of profit by driving down wages qualified and skilled workers in the hospitality industry that is now ex- HE Department of Fi- ercising employers has arisen pre- nance says a study of cisely from their insistence on “employer level mar- Recent figures from the food and accommodation sector show driving down wages and conditions gins” in the accommo- in this sector. declining staff costs are boosting employers' margins, highlighting Kieran Mulvey, Chief Executive of Tdation and food sector is not the urgent need for a Joint Labour Committee, writes Ger Gibbons the Labour Relations Commission, possible due to “data limita- told the Oireachtas Joint Committee tions”, but recent figures for on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation US fast food chain McDonalds franchised operations during 2013, itable year for McDonalds in Ireland. dation and food sector fell by 3.4% on 11th November last that the is- give some indication as to the it is not possible to make a direct At the same time, average staff lev- between the second quarter of 2011 sues that must be addressed in the overall state of this sector. comparison with 2012 levels. els in McDonalds owned-restaurants and the second quarter of 2014. context of good employment are In early November, McDonalds re- However, even including the fran- rose by 3% last year, while total staff All of this is occurring at a time pay, terms and conditions of em- ported pre-tax profits of €15 million chise move, pre-tax profits in 2013 costs declined by 7%, compared to when the hospitality sector contin- ployment and pensions. for its 11 directly-owned Irish were down only €600,000 from the 2012. ues to retain all the benefits of the If employers are serious about restaurants in 2013, an average of €15.6 million pre-tax profits in Declining staff costs are reflected “temporary” reduced 9% rate of VAT meeting their responsibilities in ad- more than €1.3 million per restau- 2012. And those 2012 pre-tax profits in wider Central Statistics Office introduced in 2011, a move which at dressing the employment challenges rant. Since some of its company- in turn were up 12% on 2011 levels. (CSO) data which estimates that the time was estimated to cost €350 facing this sector, the way to do so owned restaurants became All in all, 2013 was another prof- earnings per week in the accommo- million annually. is through a Joint Labour Commit- tee. Their veto must be overcome.

HOTEL SECTOR — BACK IN BUSINESS FAST FOOD — FAST PROFITS Olivia Crowe Horwath’s Hotel Tourism and Leisure Sector Review Q4 2014: • McDonalds Profits 2012 up by 12.3% to €12.7m Hallinan, (Irish Independent 25/11/2013) “Industry survey shows continued Hotel worker improvement in the hotel sector in • Domino’s Pizza Profits 2012 - €5m 2013 across all key performance metrics” (Irish Examiner – 5/4/2013) in Ennis, • Occupancy levels up 2% in 2013 • Supermac’s Profits 2012 up 6% to €5.4m county Clare • Average room rate revenues increased (Irish Independent 23/11/2013) “It is very important that we get the • Average profit levels per room over • Eddie Rockets Profits 2013 €8.3m JLCs set up again. People just cannot (Irish Independent 15/10/2014) afford the price of living at the the year increased by 7.6% (€850) to €7,347 per available room • BB’s Coffee & Muffins Profits 2012 €2.7m moment. The decreases in workers' wages have just meant that more • Occupancy levels and revenues per (Irish Times 13/6/2014) welfare payments have had to be room up across all regions • Insomnia (Redcoral Catering Ltd ) 2011 – Profits €100,000 (Irish Examiner 6/11/2012) paid out. When workers are on reduced • International tourism up 9% over the period Jan to Aug 2014 hours and on the minimum wage it • MBCC Foods – (Owns KFC, Pizza Hut & Costa Coffee) Profits 2012 2.3m € just is not possible to live. The industry • The period June-August brought an additional 219,200 visitors, (Irish Worldwide Investments Statements 31/8/2014) up 10% over same period in 2013. is improving and workers need to see • Herbal Restaurants (Ireland) Ltd (owns 18 KFC Franchises) Profits 2012 1.5m • Sector is seeing significant transactions € something back from this. There are (Irish Independent 1/11/2013) some hotels, not where I work, who • Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa purchased for 6m € • Burger King – OKR Group owned by two brothers – Value wealth €45m are just reaping the profits and not • Killashee House Hotel purchased for €13m (Irish Independent Richlist 9/3/2014) reinvesting it in the industry or paying • Lough Erne Resort purchased for circa £5.5 • Starbucks Profits 2012 €801,000 workers adequately, it can’t go on like (Hospitality Ireland Report 27/2/2014) that”. • Westin Hotel purchased for circa €65m Liberty 19 Comment NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Industrial action starts Who’s pulling the at Kerry Women’s Refuge SIPTU members in Kerry maintenance, childcare, house- Women’s Refuge and Support keeping, laundry, reception, col- strings on FTT? Services started taking indus- lecting donations and opening the trial action on Tuesday, 18th playroom. November, in a dispute over a “During the period of the dis- change to workers’ shift pat- pute, SIPTU members will also re- terns. fuse to co-operate with any By The decision to commence in- fundraising for the facility.” Niall Crowley dustrial action at the Tralee-based Eddie Mullins added: “Our facility follows a management members are dedicated and com- move to impose the changes to mitted in their work within the HE introduction of a shift patterns without agreement refuge. However, they now feel Financial Transac- on Monday, 3rd November. mis-treated by their employer and tions Tax is a political This means an up to 50% cut in this goes against the very ethos of Tmatter, not a techni- work for out-of-hours support staff the refuge itself. cal matter. Ireland has not and this will also have a severe “SIPTU members are saddened joined other EU Member States in the European En- knock-on impact on other workers. by the approach taken by the Board SIPTU Community Sector Organ- hanced Cooperation Proce- of Directors in its handling of the iser, Eddie Mullins, told Liberty: dure through which 11 situation and believe that it has “The industrial action involved member states will introduce SIPTU members withdrawing their breached its own standards in re- such a tax. labour and mounting a picket at spect of its employees.” This is a political decision and a the main entrance to the refuge Kerry Women’s Refuge operates marker of the continuing influ- as a not-for-profit organisation and from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. This ence of the financial services sec- The tax taken on financial transactions would be a action will be repeated each subse- is registered as a charity. It is run tor. miniscule percentage of what is traded overall but quent Tuesday until this dispute is by a voluntary board of directors A Financial Transactions Tax of- still there is resistance to it Picture: Aleks von Sputto (CC BY-SA 2.0) resolved. which employs one manager and fers a steady revenue stream to a “SIPTU members have stopped seven full-time staff. cash-strapped government. It ren- sion accounts for some, but not all, Initial work by NERI and UNITE performing any duties previously The facility provides services to ders the financial services sector of this. actually suggests that a Financial carried out by Community Employ- women and children who are vic- transparent. It is incredible that not only do Transactions Tax would increase ment participants which include tims of domestic violence. It reduces harmful behaviour by we fail to introduce the tax but at jobs when investment of the rev- bearing most heavily on high fre- the same time we actually reduce enue is taken into account. quency traders. It offers resources the contribution of the financial Finally the pensions myth – that to invest in anti-poverty initia- services sector. the tax would undermine our pen- tives, public services, action on cli- The first myth to go was that a sion systems – bit the dust. Voluntary mate change and development aid. Financial Transactions Tax is Pension schemes operate a long- There must be some significant in- merely a revenue raiser for the EU. term ‘buy and hold’ strategy for terests at play to block this tax. The source of this myth is a De- their investments. This minimises work award Myth is the tool of choice block- partment of Finance briefing paper ing this tax: the tax is just a rev- from 2012 that states that two enue raiser for the EU; it will cost thirds of the revenue from the tax Myth is the tool of winner jobs; it will increase the cost of our will go to the EU. It concluded that debt; it will endanger our pension there was therefore little to be choice blocking systems. gained from the tax. this tax: the tax is makes cuts Claiming Our Future invited This is not true – the full rev- David Hillman, Director of Stamp enue from the tax will accrue to just a revenue Veteran activist: Out Poverty in Britain, and a leader the Irish government. It would ap- Paddy Behan raiser for the EU; plea of the European campaign for a Fi- pear that the Department has nancial Transactions Tax, to brief failed to issue any correction to it will cost jobs; it VETERAN SIPTU activist of Dublin. Funding cuts have af- political parties. this briefing. Another Department He also met community organi- will increase the and voluntary worker, fected services across the North of Finance position is that a Finan- sations, global justice organisa- Paddy Behan, has used the Inner City. They have had a terri- cial Transactions Tax would in- cost of our debt; it tions and trade unions. He burst ble effect on the community – presentation of an award as these myths. crease the cost of our debt. Other will endanger our both young people and old peo- an opportunity to make a Meetings were held with Fianna highly-indebted countries are com- pension systems stand against further Gov- ple. Fáill, Sinn Féin, the Green Party mitted to introducing the tax, such ernment cuts to community “Many young people due to and the Labour Party. While there as Greece, Italy and Spain. groups. their substance abuse are only was some caution, there is a real- Bonds are not on the table at the moment in the enhanced coopera- Paddy, 77, received the Out- kept going because of these istic chance that a Financial Trans- exposure to the tax and ensures standing Achievement Award for courses.” actions Tax could feature in tion procedure and they are un- limited impact. Voluntary Youth Work by the He added: “For the Swan Youth political party manifestos come likely to be, given the countries So it is down to the political. City of Dublin Youth Service Services to keep going, the two the next election if pressure for involved. Another myth bites the The gain is estimated at €350 mil- Board on 14th November from main workers had to reduce their this tax is sustained. dust. lion from the tax. The post-crisis Job losses and the re-location of logic across the major economies Minister of State, Kevin working week. David Hillman started with a business was the big one. It was of the EU is to tax and regulate the Humphries. “It seems to be the policy to revelation – there is already a lim- A union member and activist pointed out that this is a low tax financial services sector. cut funding to these vital com- ited form of tax on shares in Ire- We need to make sure that Gov- for more than 50 years, Paddy, land, Stamp Duty Tax. In 2007, the and would form a small percentage used the occasion to call for no munity services and expect vol- of the charges already applied to fi- ernment embraces that logic or, at unteers or workers doing unpaid Government introduced an exemp- worst, that the political parties do further cuts in funding to youth tion for intermediaries, a market nancial transactions. This could overtime to take up the slack. so in their election manifestos. services. makers relief. This exemption has only be an insignificant push fac- Paddy told Liberty: “I am a vol- “That is not good enough and tor in a context of the tax breaks A good starting point would be contributed to a reduction from to reverse the 2007 exemption for unteer director of Swan Youth these services need to be deliv- € € already enjoyed by multi-national 600 million to 170 million in intermediaries introduced into Services in the North Inner City ered in a professional manner.” the take from this tax. The reces- finance in the IFSC (International Financial Services Centre). Stamp Duty legislation. 20 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Workplace Committee

UPPORT staff in Cherry learned much about union work Orchard Hospital, who and representing members from set up a workplace Beth, who works alongside her in committee earlier this the hospital. S Full, hour-long committee meet- year, say it has brought “life Our union is now in bloom back to the hospital”. ings are held once every six weeks. The committee chairwoman is The minutes of these meetings are Beth Cunningham, a SIPTU activist then distributed among all SIPTU for 10 years who is also a member Support Staff members in the hos- of the union’s Equality Committee. at Cherry Orchard hospital pital. Maria pointed out that a “Staff were just worn down by major issue currently on the com- the pay cuts. The perception was mittee’s agenda is changes to sick we never saw ‘the union’ apart leave regulations. In all meetings from when there were disputes or with management, Beth is now ac- some other problems. This com- mittee has now put new life into it We mainly just deal and got members involved again in their union,” she told Liberty. with day-to-day For several years, Beth Cunning- things. When ham and one colleague, Alan Coyle, represented the 130 support you are dealing workers in Cherry Orchard Hospi- with management it tal. However, assisted by the union’s drive to effectively organ- is nice to know where ise workers in the health sector, you stand and that there is now a nine-person strong committee. you can discuss any The committee includes repre- problem with the sentatives from household staff, healthcare assistants, caterers, committee porters and transport grades. Healthcare assistant, Amanda companied by at least one other Fogarty, said: “The committee has committee member. been going since May with the help of the union’s Organising De- “Before we had the committee partment. There is more interest you would have people being ap- Committee members Suzanne in the union from members now Gilligan, Beth Cunningham, Maria proached and told to do duties because they see that things are McMahon and Amanda Fogarty they shouldn’t have been doing. happening.” That is why it is essential to have Beth claims it is is a change that grades, but now we have someone volved in union activity as part of support. a committee to cover those that has revolutionised the effective- in each grade, so if there is some- the new committee. The setting up of the new com- ness of the union. thing wrong in that grade, mem- She said: “We mainly just deal mittee was advertised within the won’t speak up or are in vulnerable She said: “Before we had the bers talk to them. with the day-to-day things. When hospital and there was some com- situations,” she added. committee it was sometimes like “That means management has you are dealing with management The other Cherry Orchard SIPTU working in the secret service. I petition for places. Susanne Gilli- not got their way before we know it is nice to know where you stand Support Staff committee members would walk through the grounds about it. That’s the difference – and that you can discuss any prob- gan, the newest member of the and people would come up to me there is more communication.” lems with the committee.” committee, was attending her first are Nicola O’Keefe, Mick Wilson, and say, ‘My duties were changed Maria McMahon, a member of That is the whole point of having meeting on the day of the Liberty Marlize McCann, Alan Coyle and last week’. They were all different the household staff, became in- a committee because you have the interview. She said that she had Nora Brady.

ROBERTS’ TOM CREAN SHORT STORY COMPETITION CONCERT

Roberts’ Short Story Competition has been RAISES established in memory of Ruaidhrí Roberts, founder of the Peoples College. FUNDS FOR It is for previously unpublished stories of up to 2,500 words on any subject and open to all HOSPICE Trade Unionists.

1st prize: €1,000, 2nd prize €750, A total of €6,240 was raised at the concert held to 3rd prize: €500. mark the passing of Tom Crean. The concert was Tánaiste Joan Burton at Blanchardstown Fire Entry fee €10 per entry. held on Sunday 12th October in Liberty Hall theatre Station on Friday, 14th November with (from left) and among the performers were Mairghreád and If you are interested in entering you can see the Brian Murray, SIPTU Section Committee member Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Sean Corcoran, Jimmy Kelly, People’s College website or email Kevin Conneff, the Voice Squad, Paddy Glackin and and Dublin Fire Brigade staff, Terry Elebert, [email protected] for further details. Ciaran Clare, Kevin O’Reilly, Paddy Quinn and others involved in the Tradition Club of which Tom Michelle O’Toole. was a co-founder in the 1970s. The funds have been Closing date February 28th 2015 donated to St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Liberty 21 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

By Ger Opposition to Gibbons the inclusion of ISDS in the The European TTIP is growing Commission may among trade drop the unions and controversial civil society on ‘Investor-State both sides of Dispute the Atlantic. Settlement’ And the provisions from opposition is the TTIP trade having an agreement impact between the EU and US. But courts in the EU Member States is limited by special regimes for in- would such a vestor disputes.” In her early October confirmation hearing before MEPs, move be enough? the new EU Trade Commissioner, Ce- cilia Malmström, did not rule out the possibility of ISDS being removed INCE mid-2013 the EU from TTIP (but indicated this was and US have been in se- not her preferred course of action). cret negotiations on a It is obvious that there are many at far-reaching ‘Transat- EU level and in national capitals who lanticS Trade and Investment want to see ISDS stay within TTIP. Partnership’ (TTIP) that critics But it also clear that any such agree- ment would face an uphill struggle say would undermine protec- to get through the European Parlia- tions for worker's rights, the Stop the TTIP! A protest ment, which must approve any deal environment and consumers against the agreement in by an absolute majority (i.e. at least put in place by democratically- Berlin last May. Picture: Christian 377 out of 751 MEPs), and through Mang/Campact (CC BY-SA 2.0) elected governments. some national parliaments. The European Commission claims While ISDS is undoubtedly the that an ambitious deal, if fully imple- most contentious aspect of TTIP at mented by 2027, could raise the EU's the moment, it is by no means the GDP by 0.5% annually and create only concern being raised. hundreds of thousands of jobs. The TTIP is not an “old-style” trade Irish government strongly supports agreement, primarily concerned with the talks and says Ireland would ben- tariffs. About 80% of the negotiations efit more than most. are taken up with “regulatory conver- The proposed inclusion of ‘in- gence” – agreeing mechanisms for vestor-state dispute settlement’ TTIP: dropping the aligning existing and future US, EU (ISDS) provisions, enhancing the and national measures that “signifi- rights of investors, is giving rise to cantly affect trade”. the most concern so far. The former Director General of the ISDS provisions are in fact a long- World Trade Organisation, Pascal standing part of international trade Lamy, compares it to the process that and investment agreements. They began in the mid-1980s to create a were originally created to establish a investors’ rights single European market. That degree of legal certainty for investors process has been accompanied by in countries with perceived weak years of debate about how the Euro- legal systems. Investors who believe pean single market can be reconciled their “rights” under public interna- with workers’ rights, public services, tional law (e.g. protection against un- environmental, consumer standards, fair and inequitable treatment etc.) and open and democratic decision- have been breached can seek dam- making. That debate is still raging ages before international tribunals. chapter not enough across Europe but has yet to be con- Over recent years, ISDS provisions sidered in relation to TTIP in many have increasingly been used to chal- capitals. lenge public policy decisions. High- acting in the public interest (a phe- ISDS in the TTIP is growing among in TTIP). The Commission received The General Secretary of the Euro- profile examples include the nomenon known as “regulatory trade unions and other civil society more than 150,000 responses to this pean Trade Union Confederation (on-going) cases by Vattenfall against chill”). The European Commission organisations on both sides of the At- call (including from the ICTU), the Bernadette Ségol warns that an EU- Germany over its decision to phase recognises there are serious loop- lantic. And the opposition is having vast majority of which sought to US agreement that could be in the out nuclear power and by Philip Mor- holes but argues that TTIP and the an impact. Last January, the Euro- have ISDS removed. The Commis- public interest is being captured by ris against Australia for its plain- (yet-to-be-ratified) EU-Canada agree- pean Commission suspended the ne- sion has yet to respond. vested interests. packaging tobacco laws. ment provide an opportunity to gotiations on the ISDS chapter of In July, the new Commission pres- Whether it continues as such, and Even if many challenges are not agree a better global template for TTIP, pending a public consultation ident, Jean-Claude Juncker, told the risks falling at the final hurdle, is still upheld, the very threat of legal ac- ISDS. on the future of ISDS in general (i.e. European Parliament that he would in the hands of the negotiators and tion can deter Governments from Opposition to the inclusion of not on whether ISDS should remain not accept “that the jurisdiction of of governments. 22 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 News

The People’s College

"The People’s College, supported by the I.C.T.U. and it's affiliated trade unions offers courses for working and retired people and a forum for them to express their cultural and artistic talents. In considering its future pro- gramme the college identified the lack of march- ing bands in the trade union movement and has decided to investigate the possibility of forming such a band.

If you are interested in participating in the

People’s College Marching Band, please contact Professor Kate Pickett and Richard the college at [email protected] - Wilkinson with their Charles Cully Medals for their contribution to a Expressions of interest will be accepted up to greater understanding of health Friday 23rd January 2015. inequality. Picture: Andres Poveda

MMuscularuscular Dystrophy Ireland Link between inequality CChristmashristmas CardsCards 20142014

MDI are pleased to launch our Christmas card collection for 2014 which features 8 beautifully designed, high quality gloss cards GreatGreat Value at only
6.00 per pack (plus postage) and cancer highlighted These cards are Irish made and all proceeds go to Muscular Dystrophy Ireland To order online visit: www.mdi.ie or phone (01) 6236414 NEQUALITY in developed populations with better health, Kathleen O’Meara, said the higher countries is at its lowest while economic growth and in- death rate from cancer in poorer when trade union mem- creases in average incomes have communities is unacceptable. bership is at its strongest, stopped contributing to wellbeing in “This high death rate means that Irenowned academic Professor richer countries. people are dying unnecessarily and The academics told the audience prematurely from cancer and that Richard Wilkinson told the in the Carmelite Centre in Dublin this will continue unless action is Irish Cancer Society’s Annual that, looked at from a wider perspec- taken. This is what was termed this Charles Cully Memorial Lec- Verse on inside of card reads: tive, it was possible to see that week 'the cancer kill gap', and is not ture. equality increased in the post-war acceptable”, she said. Beannachtaí agus Sonas um Nollaig agus athblian faoi mhaise Wilkinson and Professor Kate years until the late 1980s and early “While Government strategy doc- Happy Christmas and a Peaceful, Prosperous New Year Pickett, co-authors of The Spirit 1990s in both the US and western uments do commit to tackling

Card size: 210mm x 148mm (A5) Level, the seminal book on health Europe. Professor Wilkinson linked health inequalities, they contain inequality, were in Dublin to receive this increased equality to fear among very little by way of concrete actions the Charles Cully Medal for their that will make a difference to people ThankThank you for your continued support contribution to a greater under- in these poor communities”. standing of health inequality, which “They need more GPs, since the is being highlighted by the Irish The death rate GP is more often than not the first Cancer Society as a key policy issue from cancer in contact the cancer patient will have in the battle against cancer in Ire- with the health service. They also

land. Blakestown in need a guarantee that if they need a The Society also revealed figures Co Dublin close follow-up procedure such as a that starkly demonstrate the level of colonoscopy or an ultrasound, that health inequality and cancer in Ire- to three times they will get it”, she said. land, and show that the death rate “Despite the strides made in can- from cancer in Blakestown in Co higher than the cer diagnosis and treatment in the Dublin is very close to three times death rate in past few decades, Ireland has be- higher than the death rate in Castle- come a very unequal society when it knock. This trend is replicated Castleknock comes to health problems, particu- throughout the country but is most larly cancer and access to healthcare. evident in Dublin. If we are serious about reducing the These figures were compiled by cancer rate we need to tackle this the Centre for Health Geoinfomatics capitalists of the threat posed by the worrying divide. It is a challenge fac- at NUI Maynooth and are available rise of post-war communism, and to ing all of us – the policy-makers, at www.chg.ie. the high trade union membership healthcare providers and the Irish Wilkinson and Pickett presented a and political strength during this Cancer Society. We must work now range of data demonstrating how era. to begin to close this gap.” death rates, not only from cancer but He noted that the increase in in- The Irish Cancer Society is begin- from a wide range of illnesses, are equality has continued into the cur- ning a campaign to ensure the link related to differences in income lev- rent recession, with some countries, between health inequalities and can- From left: SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, General els within countries – the wider the including Ireland, recording a greater cer is recognised in the new 10-year President, Jack O’Connor, DFB/SIPTU Convenor Gerry Harris, and income disparity, the greater the in- increase in inequality. National Cancer Strategy, which will Section Chairperson, John Mahon at Blanchardstown Fire Station equality. More equal countries, such Head of Advocacy and Communi- be published in 2016, as well as ac- on Friday, 14th November. as Sweden, Japan and Finland, have cations at the Irish Cancer Society, tions recommended to address it. Liberty 23 International NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Coalition likely following Tunisia vote By Yvonne O’Callaghan set at $210 a month but as regula- tion is weak in the housing sector UNDAY 26th October and food prices are increasing rap- marked an historic day idly, there has been an explosion for Tunisia. The coun- in poverty levels and inequality. try that sparked the Young people have from the be- S ginning of the Revolution been at so-called Arab spring held its first parliamentary elections the forefront of demanding a bet- under a post-revolution con- ter future for the country and its stitution. democracy. However, emerging studies from Amid fears of voter apathy, the the recent elections suggest that high turnout on voting day of al- young people by and large re- most 60% was significant. But elec- frained from voting even though tions and governing are two different battles in this fragile democracy. The political landscape in Tunisia is far more complex than Young people what has been simply depicted as secularist versus Islamist. have from the While the liberal Nidaa Tounes party won most of the seats, it beginning Mass election rally of the does not have a majority and will Islamist Ennahda party been at the need to rule in coalition. It will need to find a way to work with Is- forefront in lamists, in particular the Ennahda This resulted in the government party. stepping down and the establish- demanding This is because, aside from the ment of a technocratic caretaker two major parties, the Tunisian administration. The fact that dif- a better future electorate is fragmented into nu- ferences were resolved through di- for the country merous smaller parties that carry alogue, however tenuous, was little weight and would not have commended. and its enough power, even if they all On the other hand, these elec- came together, to rule with the tions provide an opportunity to in- democracy leading party. vite the Islamists to the A Nidaa Tounes-Ennahda coali- negotiating table and engage in a tion would help the country deal healthy political discourse about one-third of the party candidate with ongoing security challenges. forming a coalition government lists were under the age of 35. Radical Islamists were behind the and moving the country forward. This is perhaps an expression of assassinations of two high-profile This inclusiveness would con- their growing disillusionment with political leaders – Mohamed tribute greatly to mitigating ex- a democracy which is not deliver- Brahmi and Chokri Belaid – last tremist tendencies. ing for them. year when Ennahda was leading However, a consensus-based, Given the large youth popula- the governing coalition. unity government would present a tion, political parties and leaders These fatal episodes tipped pub- more formidable force in legitimis- will need to ensure that a new gen- lic dissatisfaction with Ennahda ing the democratic process and eration of civic engagement is nur- over the edge. tackling security issues which PICTURES: Atlantic Council (CC BY-NC-ND) tured if the democratic process is Anti-government demonstra- threaten to destabilise it. Tunisians. Important reforms in- tation of the social contract agreed to be upheld and respected by pri- tions at that time reached such The new government if it is to cluding the introduction of a pro- with the social partners, as part of oritising measures which aim to heights that they pressured En- succeed will need to ensure that gressive taxation system will be the quartet roadmap, will be nec- tackle youth unemployment. nahda to enter into a national dia- political differences will not get in needed to tackle the growing infor- essary to ensure that workers and Tunisia staged its first round of logue proposed by a civil society the way of passing important re- mal economy which currently their families benefit from a stable presidential elections on Sunday quartet led by the national trade forms necessary to improve the makes up 37% of the country's eco- democracy. 23rd November and will hold local union centre, the UGTT. economic and social conditions of nomic activity. The full implemen- The minimum wage is currently elections in 12 months time. Global Solidarity role for SIPTU human rights campaigner FROM Venezuela to Bangladesh bonds between trade unionists in “The Committee has also fostered rightwing death squads which often the Congress Global Solidarity Ireland and progressive campaigns links with the Clean Clothes cam- have links to the Government”. Committee seeks to promote across the globe. paign which promotes workers Mags has herself been to the fore- workers’ rights and progressive “Some of the key campaigns for rights in the international garments front of solidarity campaigns in re- the Congress Global Solidarity focus industry”. politics. lation to Palestine. Cuba and on Palestine, Colombia, Cuba and She added: “In the case of Pales- Nicaragua. She has visited Palestine In October, SIPTU College tutor, Venezuela”, she said. tine, Cuba and Venezuela the on two occasions and on two other Mags O’Brien, was elected to serve “Affiliated unions also have threats are mainly from outside as chairperson of the Committee, schemes where direct aid is pro- forces that seek to attack these occasions attempted to travel to which consists of representatives of vided to workers and causes in states’ right to self-determination. Gaza on aid flotillas that were halted from all Congress affiliated unions. other countries. These have in- “In relation to Colombia the main by Israeli forces. She has also cam- Mags told Liberty she iss hon- cluded training courses run by Irish thrust of solidarity work is high- paigned for the freedom of the Campaigner: oured to serve on a committee en- unions for activists from the Global lighting the threat to the lives and Cuban Five, three of whom remain Mags O’Brien trusted with strengthening the South. well being of trade unionists from incarcerated in US prisons. 24 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 International

By Frank Connolly Following a rigorous and de- From the killing fields of Sri Lanka to the Irish meaning application process, he AMESH (not his real was given refugee status and ad- name) was a re- mitted to the direct provision sys- spected journalist as direct provision service - one refugee story tem for asylum seekers in 2010. R well as a talented and Not before one retired garda as- acclaimed poet in Sri Lanka sessing his application threatened when he was arrested in 2008 to have him extradited to Sri Lanka on suspicion of having Tamil to face subversion charges, and cer- sympathies tain death. One of his alleged crimes had Unable to work, study, cook their been to question military authori- native food or live a normal life, ties about Tamils who had been those in direct provision are ex- ‘disappeared’ by the Sri Lankan pected to raise families and main- army. tain a dignified existence on €19 a Another was to write about the week. His experience in detention illegal encroachment and seizure centres in Kilkenny, Waterford and of resource-rich Tamil lands by the Dublin is a harrowing indictment Colombo government (not unlike of how the Irish state treats some the Israeli occupation of Palestin- of the world’s most vulnerable cit- ian lands) in north and east Sri izens. Lanka. His final humiliation was when His detailed and critical analysis another asylum seeker, sharing an of the massive Sethu Canal project overcrowded space, urinated on in which powerful interests in the his face as he slept in the Water- US, India and China have com- ford centre. bined to develop the initiative with negative environmental, so- Ramesh recently left the direct cial and economic implications for provision service and is looking for the Tamil people was banned in Sri a job. His mental health has in- Lanka and India. evitably suffered from years of ill His investigation of the notori- treatment and prolonged separa- ous ‘white van’ abductions by the tion from his wife and young child. army led to his own arrest at his The manner in which he has been home in Colombo in June 2008 treated by the Irish authorities has and a year of detention and made matters worse. torture. Recently married with a The inhumane conditions have six-months-old baby, Ramesh de- Insult to injury resulted in recent protests at sev- scribed to Liberty what happened. eral of the centres which are invari- “I was blindfolded and tied and ably in isolated locations miles taken in a white van. My father pendent state in the north and east charge for almost nine months in from the nearest town. There have tried to stop them but I pleaded of the island. a camp,” Ramesh recalled. been widespread complaints by with them not to attack him. They Between January and May 2009 He was released with the help of residents of the quality of care tortured me in the hidden torture the Sri Lankan military massacred Irish embassy staff in India and they receive. camp, Panadagoda, with electric tens of thousands of people as the permitted to come to Dublin to act Is it any wonder President Hig- currents on my nipples, in my nos- Tigers prepared to surrender. as an interpreter and witness at gins and the media have been re- trils and on my penis. “When I was in India I was ar- the People’s Permanent Tribunal of fused access to some of these “They put barbed wire in my rested by the authorities because inquiry into the Sri Lankan con- places where hundreds of families anal area. They put petrol in a plas- of my political opinions and activ- flict in January 2010 after which he are living as unhappy and unwel- tic bag and put my head in it. I was ities. They detained me without applied for political asylum. come guests of the nation? naked. They accused me of being a supporter of the Tamil Tigers, a spy for freedom fighters. A series of images taken by Sri Lankan soldiers on mobile “They wanted the names of phones during the final battles high-ranking Sri Lankan army offi- against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 cials who supported the Tamil Tigers. They wanted to know how I knew about corruption in army business dealings that I had writ- ten about. “My eyes were covered. At one stage the soldiers released my blind- fold and I had a chance to view the surroundings. I saw the ‘electric cre- matorium’ run by the Sri Lankan army where they burned people and left their clothes, thousands of pieces of clothing, including women’s clothes. “After five days of brutal torture and unconscious, they left me in the bush. I was taken into hiding by friends and after some days I travelled to India where I was hos- pitalised for six months.” It was January 2009 and near the end of the 26-year war in which more than 200,000 people were killed. The conflict began when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers) sought to create an inde- Liberty 25 Reviews NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Taking a stand against the slaughter

The Irish Neutrality League and the Imperialist War 1914-18 Published by PANA IN THE present commemora- tion-fest around the First World War you could be for- given for thinking that no- one ever asked the question at the time – “Why should we be involved in this imperial- ist conflict?” Yet, to their undying credit, some, a minority admittedly, in- cluding our union, did, and de- cided to march to a different drum beat – that of opposition to the war. This recent publication by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) tells their story. Proud boast: the ICA lines up outside Some in Europe opposed the war Liberty Hall, Autumn 1914. because of their strongly-held Christian values; some because thousands of “conscientious objec- fists, feminists, republicans and extensive history of the INL and nomic and military fronts. they were pacifists. Others, many tors” were later jailed or forced nationalists under the banner of notes that in a circular of October He argues: “We must hold firm of them from the left, were not into uniform at the front. (Though the short lived Irish Neutrality 5, 1914, the League warned that ef- to our union’s traditional policy of pacifists, and viewed the war as a not a pacifist, one of those was war League (INL). forts were being made by the support for Irish neutrality and contest between competing impe- resister and Irish trade unionist, Its initial meeting, chaired by British government and employers non-alignment...” rial powers in which they and John Swift senior). James Connolly, resolved to re- to force young male workers into This publication shines a light workers generally should play no In Germany one pacifist, Otto spond to John Redmond’s recruit- the army – what they termed on a little discussed and unfash- part. Umfrid, described their endeav- ment drive for the British Army “commercial conscription”. ionable aspect of our history, that In Dublin, the banner over Lib- ours as akin to “fixing a truck and the tsunami of jingoism and Historian, Margaret Ward deals of neutrality, but one which in the erty Hall in that autumn of 1914 rolling into a precipice with a war hysteria. with the contribution of Countess said it all:“We Serve Neither King thread of silk”. As the editor Roger Cole of Peace Markievicz to the INL’s activities, words of Francis Devine “should Nor Kaiser, But Ireland” Other Germans, such as social- and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) Aidan Lloyd with that of pacifist not be obscured”, not least because In England, socialists such as ists Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Lux- notes, “...its core ideology was to Francis Sheehy Skeffington’s while it is certain where Connolly would Keir Hardie, George Lansbury embourg, were jailed for treason. unite all of those opposed to the Jack O’Connor points to the rele- stand on those same issues today. (grandfather of actor Angela) and Ireland saw the coming together imperial war and to promote Irish vance of the League’s core princi- Available from PANA at the suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst of a broad but disparate group of independence and neutrality”. ples today as Europe’s ruling elites www.pana.ie; email [email protected] campaigned against the war, while socialists, trade unionists, paci- Writer, Francis Devine, gives an flex their muscles on both the eco- Michael Halpenny The diary of an emigrant and dissenter Against the Wind: Memoir as examples of such tales of the which helped to broaden his mind. James O’Brien joined the Move- of a Dissident Dublin lives of migrant workers in Eng- In particular, he was lucky ment. Young men like Charlie By J.A. O’Brien land and North America, respec- enough to be raised by strong, lov- Haughey joined the party of Dev. Sid Harta Publishers tively. ing but, above all, independent The book covers the period up to Born in 1936, the author, James and class-conscious parents who the 1960s, including his subse- THE full title of this book is O’Brien, grew up in the south were not afraid to think for them- quent involvement with the Con- Against the Wind: Memoir of inner-city and went to St Louis’ selves or stand up for their rights , nolly Association and its work a Dissident Dubliner. How- National School in Rathmines in if required. with the organised labour move- ever, this is not the diary of the period quaintly referred to by Leaving school he became an ap- ment in England on the injustices someone strenuously op- the then “Free State” as the “Emer- prentice bricklayer and there is a in the North. posed to the Good Friday gency”. wonderful chapter on his initia- While his later life took him to His father was a bricklayer and tion into the trade and the union, Australia, this memoir stands out Agreement, but rather the his mother worked in domestic called Before the Green Cloth. among those which tell a wider thoughts of a working class service and he tells a colourful and He writes tenderly of first love tale than interesting anecdotes writer, bricklayer, and one sometimes heart-rending tale of and also of his political awakening. about growing up in Dublin or time member of an earlier Re- the difficulties faced by working This partly derives from his expe- other places in “the Rare Oul’ publican movement, who class families just trying to survive. rience as an emigrant worker with Times”. grew up in the Dublin of the He also tells of the casual brutal- Yorkshire miners. It looks into the developing 1940s and 50s and left to ity of school life and the all-per- The other impulse came from mind of a young person who is not work outside Ireland. vading oppression of the Catholic the IRA Border Campaign of the only intensely observant of the As such it is different from many Church. Nevertheless, in the South 1950s at a time when it was said world but conscious of their class books of its type which reflect the Deorai (Diary of an Exile) or the Circular Road area of the city, he that young men with ambition and the challenges before it, and, experience of those from a more earlier Rotha Mor an tSaol (The was also exposed to different joined Fianna Fáil and young men most critically, can convey it to the rural or “provincial” setting. Hard Road to Klondike) by Done- views and experiences, those of with principles joined the Repub- reader. Donal Mac Amhlaigh’s Dialann gal’s Micheál MacGowan stand out Protestant and Jewish neighbours, lican Movement. Michael Halpenny 26 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Reviews Book flags up need for national debate on housing Renting in Ireland: in Government capital spending security and quality remain serious also draws on the experience of mi- The Social, Vountary since the economic downturn and concerns in the private rented sec- nority groups renting in Ireland and and Private Sectors the collapse of the housing market tor. makes comparisons with renting in Edited by Lorcan Sirr generally. The profile of private renting in Northern Ireland. Price: €28 Budget 2015 has increased fund- Ireland now resembles the 1950s Ireland is no longer a nation of Publisher: Institute of Public ing for social housing to reverse this more than it does the 1980s and home owners and many people will Administration trend; however, it will take some 1990s which is a shock to many be renting for the rest of their lives. time for this increased supply to people and poses a major challenge With increased homelessness, ris- ONE in three families in come on-stream. to our thinking. ing rents and restricted access to Ireland now live in rented More people are now living in Renting in Ireland takes a com- home ownership, there is a need housing, either from a private urban areas, where housing is ex- prehensive overview of all aspects for a national debate on housing. landlord, local authority or pensive and home ownership is not of renting. The book is divided into The recent publication of SIPTU’s housing association. an option. For some younger pro- three sections looking at the private housing policy is recognition of the However, as Lorcan Sirr, the edi- fessionals renting is a lifestyle rented sector, social rented sector importance of this debate. Renting tor of Renting In Ireland makes choice, while for many others rent- and related areas, with contribu- in Ireland is a further contribution clear, attitudes and political policy ing is a necessity. tions from a diverse range of au- to our knowledge of housing, past in Ireland have traditionally been dents”. For those who still see our Local authorities have in the thors with varying backgrounds. and present, and will further in- strongly biased in favour of home housing system in these terms, this main retreated from direct housing It examines the reasons for the form the direction of this debate. ownership. book is a wake-up call. provision relying on private land- decline and resurgence of the pri- Senator Aideen Hayden Renting, particularly private rent- The significant growth of the pri- lords to meet the needs of those vate rented sector, the historic im- Aideen Hayden is a Labour Party Sen- ing, has been seen as the preserve vate rented sector is a direct result who cannot afford to provide a portance of social renting and its ator and Chair of Threshold, National of “the poor, the unemployed, the of the decline in social housing, home for themselves from their future role in the housing system Housing Charity. She has contributed socially marginalised and stu- arising from the massive reduction own resources. However, issues of together with overall regulation. It a chapter to this book. Period piece that evokes a brooding sense of menace The House Where years previously. ters in the locality. One by one she girl, who was caught with her mas- It Happened It was an event that upset a local accuses women in the community ter in a compromising position, is By Martina Devlin evildoer at the time, Hamilton Lock, and, in spite of their protests of in- sacked and sent back to her family Ward River Press who then went on to lead a mas- nocence, eight of them are arrested where she is beaten by her father. Price: €16.99 sacre of the Magee family [the na- and sent for trial. The ‘master’ continues to live in tive Irish family after whom the The narrator, Ellen, fears for her- the community and not only re- THE House Where It Hap- peninsula was named], slaughter- self but also more importantly fears mains unpunished but it is sug- pened by Omagh-born writer ing men, women and children and for the safety and fate of the Hal- gested by the elders that Ruth was Martina Devlin is a powerful driving them over the cliffs. He is tridge children, Jamesey and Sarah. the sinner and tempted the master story that takes place in 1711 now rumoured to haunt the locality Ever watchful of the goings-on in and that is why she should be pun- and is located in a remote cor- and Knowehead House. the house, she also is aware of the ished for her wrongdoing. ner of Ireland on the Island- A visitor arrives, a relative of the sinister and inexplicable events Men are unable to ‘resist’ these magee peninsula, County Haltridge family, a young girl called that occur almost on a daily basis, temptresses and there are numer- Antrim, among the Ulster- Mary Dunbar and sets in train a se- even after Mary Dunbar has left the ous references to this during the Scots community. ries of events that are spine-chill- house. trial of the so-called witches. The house in question is Knowe- ing, sinister and dramatic. The story also exposes the mis- The author creates an atmos- head House, a remote farmhouse but not just any old ghost story. It Acutely interested in the goings- treatment and subjugation of phere of creepiness and underlying owned by the Haltridge family. The is based on a relatively unknown on at the house and in the area 100 women both in the community and menace. elderly mother has died an uneasy story of the last witchcraft trials in years before and in particular in for Ellen as a servant girl, com- Devlin has written with authentic death and rumours abound of Ireland. Hamilton Lock, Mary claims she is pletely beholden to her ‘master’. language and evokes the period bril- ghostly hauntings around the time The house has apparently been being haunted and possessed by The hypocrisy of the period is liantly. It is a sinister ghost story, a of her passing. built on a pagan burial or sacrificial witches. also illustrated by the treatment of historical novel and a thoroughly Narrated by Ellen, the serving ground by the master of the house, Her claims appear real and very a different character in the local entertaining read. girl, it is essentially a ghost story Haltridge’s minister father many convincing to the elders and minis- community. Ruth, another servant Kate Kirwan Celebrating the mythic power of Dublin’s Garda Jim Brannigan The Legendary ‘Lugs’ Garda Jim Branigan, or ‘Lugs’ as he The lingo of the Teddy Boys of Lugs, Kearns can’t help but re- Branigan: Ireland’s Most was known. The mythology and crossed over into mainstream call entering Kevin Street Garda Famed Garda folklore around Branigan’s clashes media, with the Evening Herald Station in 2011 and asking the By Kevin C. Kearns with ‘Animal Gangs’ and Teddy publishing a crash course article young gardaí on duty if they knew Boys have cemented his place in for parents worried their own Publisher: Gill & Macmillan who Jim Branigan was. popular Dublin lore. teenagers may be drifting towards He writes: “...after a pause, one THERE have been few authors Kearn draws on interviews with Teddy Boy culture entitled “Dig fellow members of the Garda, as This, You Cats!” While there is a garda politely volunteered: Brani- as prolific on the subject of well as then-youths who made life nostalgic element to reading of gan …em… wasn’t he supposed to 20th century Dublin as Kevin difficult inside and outside the Teddy Boys jiving away, other as- be some kind of a legend or some- C. Kearns, whose Dublin Ten- dancehalls and cinemas of the city pects of the history of the city ex- thing?” ement Life is considered a in the 1940s and 50s. plored here are darker, for example While he may have been forgot- classic oral history of work- Long before Beatlemania hit the Branigan’s relationship with pros- ing class life in the city. ten inside Kevin Street Garda Sta- Irish capital, Kearns captures the titutes working the streets. tion, the impression one gets Kearns’ emphasis on oral testi- Teddy Boy period, which was truly While “cops were the enemy” to mony and interviewing ageing alarming to the authorities, noting these girls, some formed a close re- reading the interviews in this book Dubliners has ensured that his that one judge accused young men lationship with Lugs, who they is that he certainly has not been texts are as much important readable books. of “behaving in a riotous manner saw as a protective force. forgotten outside its walls. sources in themselves as they are Here, he takes on the subject of by jiving in the cinema”. On the subject of the mythology Donal Fallon Liberty 27 Reviews NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 The Diary of a PD Leader Conduct Unbecoming: ship and that of his successors, A Memoir went on to have a significant but By Desmond O’Malley negative influence on our society Published by and economy. Gill & Macmillan Ltd It all ended politically in the election of 2007 when his succes- I MET Des O’Malley once, in sor Michael McDowell abandoned 1981. He was Minister for In- party, colleagues and members, dustry and Commerce and I even while some were still battling was representing a group of for seats. It was an ignominious redundant car assembly end for a project that began with workers from Talbot Ireland. such lofty ideals. We had previously met Charlie If its leader couldn’t even stand Haughey who was Taoiseach and by his own party colleagues in had conducted himself with impe- their hour of need, what chance rial grace, shaking each man was there of standing by the Re- warmly by the hand. public? When Des O’Malley came into Educated by the Jesuits, he qual- ified as a solicitor, taking over re- To his credit, even Des O’Malley the room, it was clear he had the Des O’Malley with Mary Harney sponsibility for the family practice outside the Dáil in 1984. They later wasn’t impressed. cranky boots on – so much so, that, went on to form the right-wing PDs The book is interesting if some- as his father’s health deteriorated. PICTURE: Photocall Ireland to borrow the words of Connolly what rambling, and but gives a use- (Billy the Scottish comedian), we After the untimely death of both his father and TD uncle, he was ful insight into the inner tensions felt about as welcome as a fart in a in government and Fianna Fáil in spacesuit. prevailed upon to enter politics in the Fianna Fáil interest. particular at a critical time in our I wasn’t sure if this was his usual history. demeanour or because Charlie had He was initially reluctant to do including Haughey, were sacked conviction that the Provisionals so. But there the reluctance ended However, you won’t find much landed him in it. Haughey fa- arising from the attempted impor- were solely to blame for the north- here about unemployment, hous- mously, and no doubt to O’Mal- and the book goes on to tell of his tation of arms for use in the North. ern crisis – a belief not shared even almost meteoric rise from back- ing, emigration or many of the so- ley’s horror as the line minister, He was appointed Minister for by the British government! cial ills of the time that beset had offered sweeteners to the bench TD, to Chief Whip and then Justice overnight and never looked In truth, however, there was too Minister in a number of portfolios. ordinary working families. workers, including jobs for life in back. That is until he was expelled much bad blood between him and Des O’Malley’s life experience Leinster House. The late English Prime Minister from Fianna Fáil for failing to sup- other “big beasts” in the party, too Harold MacMillan is credited with was more patrician than that of or- He was born into the Limerick port a party motion in the Dáil and many differences to carry on. (In- dinary workers and their families “establishment” as he terms it. His responding, “Events, dear boy, made his oft quoted “I stand by the deed, decades on, he is unforgiv- events”, when asked what was – and it shows. Why else would he father had a solicitors practice in Republic” speech, which, other ing, almost unkind, in his end his memoir with the follow- the city and was Lord Mayor of most likely to blow a government than an air of lofty ideal, is still a treatment of some former adver- off course. ing: “The pity is that in the post- Limerick while his uncle was the source of mystery to many as to saries). 2011 period it became clear that famous Donagh O’Malley, the Min- And it was one event in particu- what it actually meant. It was no surprise then when he lar which kick-started O’Malley’s the country needed a party with ister for Education who brought in What was less ambiguous was led the formation of the avowedly the basic principles of the PDs.” free secondary education in the serious political career – the “Arms his total antipathy to Haughey and right-wing, free-market Progressive Crisis” of 1970, when Ministers, Yeah – like a hole in the head! 1960s. his cohorts as well as his apparent Democrats who, under his leader- Michael Halpenny Rebel who defied authority and refused to be defined

Captain Jack White: NUI) who has done a remarkable disbanded in favor of arming and ers who joined the cause of trade Imperialism, Anarchism & job of researching away from the training trade union members in unionism or fought against the The Irish Citizen Army prime source material of the mem- order to protect themselves from British is that despite being sur- By Leo Keohane oirs written by Jack himself. the Dublin Metropolitan Police rounded by institutions and move- Publisher: Merrion The memoirs of Jack White, ti- (DMP). The Army would be par- ments which often demanded tled Misfit, is surely an asset to any tially established and drilled by single-minded adherence to an ide- CAPTAIN Jack White: Imperi- historical writer but Keohane does Jack White throughout the Lock- ology, Jack would never allow him- alism, Anarchism & The Irish well to bring in material from out. However, in the middle of self to be understood in a single other sources and individuals such 1914, as many of the strikers went term such as socialist, militarist, Citizen Army is a thoroughly as telegrams and letters from those back to work, Jack left his post at intriguing, in-depth look at trade unionist, or anarchist. around him (as well as Jack him- the ICA in favor of supporting the In fact what Jack always ap- one of the forgotten men at self) in order that we begin to see Irish Volunteers. peared to have in mind was an ide- the formation of modern Ire- this man’s life in a more complete But do not allow my words to ology of humanitarianism and the land. way, not just that of a politically- make you think for a moment that The book tells the story of Jack minded military man. Jack was a man who acted rather interests of any group of people as White, an Englishman of high mil- In particular, his relationship than thought because the opposite a global interest. itary stock, whose stubborn belief Jack White wrote his own auto- with his field marshal father, Sir would be true. His story deserved to be told, in the righteousness of fairness biography as a form of record but George White, is quite telling of He was a very bright man who not as a hero or a pioneer but as a brought him to Ireland in the time given that many of the important the development of White’s quite had a confidence in his intellect livewire of a man whose eccentric- events of his life happened some of great struggle. unique personality. and his heart. This allowed him to ities and stubbornness are 30 years before the book was writ- There he would make acquain- White first mentions the need face almost any authority figure or matched only by his sense of ten, it is good that we now have tance with Connolly, Larkin and for a Citizen Army at speech in challenge to his way of thinking what’s right and fair and who more complete work depicting this many others along the way to- shows it unashamedly in how he fascinating man’s life. Trinity College but the actual es- with absolute certainty. chose to live his life. wards his involvement in the for- Enter Leo Keohane (a lecturer at tablishment of the ICA didn’t hap- What marks Jack White (and mation of the Irish Citizen Army. pen until the ‘Peace Committee’ therefore his story) out among oth- Fiach Caffrey 28 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Reviews

’71 Starring: Jack O'Connell, Sean Harris, Sam Reid, Richard Dormer, Charlie Murphy, Killian Scott Running time: 99 minutes

TO PARAPHRASE a song made famous by Christy Moore, “There were burning buses, burning flags – the hawks against the doves”. Ex- cept this was no “summer of love” and there was a shed load of hawks around the streets of Belfast in 1971. And the doves? Well, this debut by director Yann Demange pres- ents us with a newly-posted unit of uniformed British soldiers. Their young and essentially decent lieutenant decides to adopt a “softly, softly” approach in their deployment to assist the police (RUC) in an “arrest” operation in the (nationalist /republican) Lower Falls area of the city. It was that naïve decision, ably Jack O’Connell as Gary the assisted by the sectarian thuggery squaddie on his own in the of the RUC that was his and his hostile back streets of Belfast platoon’s undoing. In the ensuing chaos of riot and withdrawal, he loses a rifle and two men. The rifle is carried off by a young local lad to the waiting arms of an IRA unit, which then executes one of the soldiers. The other soldier, Gary, played by the talented Jack Odd Man Out... all on his own O’Connell (Starred Up) is forced on most sinister and chilling presence Brits? And why is the local popula- they come out better than the to the run. This is nail-biting of all. tion in the Falls up in arms (liter- British undercover assassins, but What follows is pulsating drama This is nail-biting action with a ally)? then, it’s a pretty low standard to as O’Connell’s character attempts action with a few few surprises and is up there with The answer might lie in their beat. In reality, most young men in to make his way back from “be- the best of its genre. abandonment by successive Irish the Falls area at that time would hind enemy lines”. surprises and is Assisted initially by a young boy However, it has a major flaw, in and British governments to the have experienced the less-than- from the Shankill whose father has up there with the that apart from a short briefing by Unionist regime which denied tender mercies of uniformed sol- been killed by the IRA, he has to best of its genre... a pukka C.O. to the newly-arrived them basic civil rights. There was diers as they carried out thousands deal with the political and sectar- unit, delivered with all the sub- then the attack by loyalist mobs in of “screening” and search opera- ian geography of 1970s Belfast. but there is little tlety of a mallet, there is little or 1969, as well as the Falls Curfew of tions. There are the Provisional IRA and no historical or political context to 1970 in which the British killed So if you want a good action the Official IRA. Then there are the or no historical or all this. four residents, wounded 60 and ar- film, then this will not disappoint. Loyalist paramilitaries who are political context to Why is there a conflict and why rested 337 others. If, on the other hand, you want a doing the dirty work of British un- is the army there? Why are there There is also a deceit which por- political and historical understand- dercover agents, the MRF (Military all this two IRAs? Why are the Loyalists trays the uniformed squaddies as ing, read one of the many books on Reaction Force), who provide the giving a dig out to the undercover almost victims in all this. True, the period. Michael Halpenny Conjuring up a world always austere and never rare Howie the Rookie the two lads at the centre of this ond part we meet not only the some. The Rookie declares, “I By Mark O’Rowe story, connected only by their Rookie but the menacing, shark- break hearts and hymens!” Olympia Theatre “Lee-ness” (Or are they really sides like Ladyboy (rumoured to have Through it all, however, Vaughan of the same person?) three sets of teeth) and Dave -Lawlor magnificently owns the ONE man, one stage, two T- This staging tells the tale of their McGee, who could be a Mr Big or stage, sometimes prowling with shirts. That’s all it takes for odyssey through the day – and just someone who spends 11 the grace of a boxer, other times Tom Vaughan-Lawlor to tell night – of a disconnected under- months of the year out of the with less controlled violence. this gritty urban winter’s tale class world. country. If actors and plays are the stuff of retribution, blood and oc- And on a spartan Olympia stage, An integral thread in all this is that dreams are made of, then this casional lust. Lawlor brings to life a range of Avalanche, the sister of Peaches, could be material for a nightmare. Mark O’Rowe’s hit play was orig- characters who populate this uni- and who harbours major grá And yet it tells the story of every- inally scripted for two actors. How- verse. within her equally-generous frame. man to equal the classic tales of ever, Love-Hate’s “Nidge” brought Apart from the lads, there is The language of O’Rowe’s piece yore. the two characters together in this Howie’s family – the “Ould Wan” is epic but not for the sensitive or The poet Patrick Kavanagh once electrifying Olympia revival. and the “Dad” and his little faint-hearted. To match the some- wrote of a contest over a field in It is neither Dublin in the Rare brother, the tragic Mousie Lee. times grotesque pageant onstage, his native Monaghan that “Homer Oul’ Times nor Austerity Ireland Punctuating the telling is the fre- there is a parallel journey through made the Iliad of such a row”. You 2014 – more a world where it was netic duo, Flandingle and Ginger the alphabet to the occasional dis- can add O’Rowe and his play to Gritty performance: always austere and never rare. Boy, careering around the land- comfort of the audience. The turn that. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor Howie Lee and the Rookie are scape in their Hiace van. In the sec- of phrase can be equally jarring to Michael Halpenny Liberty 29 Obituaries NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

OBITUARY Micheál O Loingsigh (1932-2014) Internationalist and humanitarian ICHEÁL S. O Lo- constitutional. ingsigh, who died Micheál was a committed Irish on 6th November, In the 1970s language supporter and a member was an interna- Micheál served of Conradh na Gailge, the Gaelic Mtionalist, a strong democrat, a League. In the 1970s he served sev- deep humanitarian and a great several days in eral days in Mountjoy Prison for human being whose political his part in the TV licence campaign activism took him from the Mountjoy Prison against the government’s failure to civil rights movement in establish an Irish-language TV Northern Ireland to cam- for his part in channel, which put pressure on paigns that were critical of the the TV licence the State to remedy that. EEC. He was also active in the Following an apprenticeship at campaign against Gaelscoil movement and helped The Kerryman newspaper and establish Scoil Naithí in Ballinteer, studies at the London College of the government’s Dublin. He brought up his children Printing, Micheál became a master failure to as Irish speakers, and it was appro- printer. He helped establish priate that his funeral service was Drogheda Printers, of which he establish an in Irish. was manager for much of his work- He was a founder of the annual ing life. Irish-language TV Desmond Greaves Weekend Politi- He came from a Kerry republican cal School, of which he was direc- family, whose members had fought channel tor for some years. He was also a in the War of Independence. Dur- member of the Irish Anti- ing the 1960s he was a member of His firm printed many of the tent by the British Government to Apartheid Movement, founded by the Wolfe Tone Society, established pamphlets which put forward the work positively towards Irish re- any treaty which surrendered State his friend, the late Kader Asmal. in 1963 to mark the bicentenary of arguments of the No side on that unification by consent as being in sovereignty to Brussels must be ap- Micheál was a proud Kerryman, Wolfe Tone's birth and which occasion, which included the Irish the best interests of both the proved by the Irish people in a ref- a strong supporter of the county played an influential role in the Congress of Trade Unions, the British and Irish peoples, and to erendum – on the basis that the team and had been a champion formation of the Northern Ireland Labour Party and the two elements that end he co-operated with the people were the repositories of sprinter in his youth. Civil Rights Association (NICRA). of the recently divided Sinn Féin. late Michael Mullen, General Pres- sovereignty, and it could not be He passed away peacefully at Micheál walked in the first In that campaign he debated ident of the ITGWU (now SIPTU), surrendered by members of the Tralee General Hospital, sur- NICRA-sponsored civil rights against such luminaries as Garret who was a personal friend. Oireachtas – Micheál led the Con- rounded by his wife and children. march from Coalisland to Dungan- FitzGerald and Fianna Fáil's Brian In 1986, Micheál was a central stitutional Rights Campaign on the He was a beloved husband of Eibh- non in August 1968 and was also Lenihan Snr about the likely con- figure in the Constitutional Rights No side in the resulting SEA refer- lín (nee Casey) and much loved fa- on the follow-up march in Armagh. sequences of Ireland's participa- Campaign which was set up to endum. ther of Siobhán, Pádraig, Niall, When Ireland’s membership of tion in the EEC. help meet the expenses of the legal He also supported former Green Saibh, Muireann and Aine. He is the EEC became a live issue follow- Following that he helped to es- challenge by economist Raymond MEP Patricia McKenna in her con- sadly missed by his sister Helen ing the death of French president tablish the Irish Sovereignty Move- Crotty to the FitzGerald-Spring stitutional challenge to the Gov- (New York), brothers Pat and Jack Charles de Gaulle in 1969, he be- ment (ISM), of which he was also Government's proposed mode of ernment's spending of taxpayers' (New York) and Fred (Tralee), sons- came chairman of the Common chairman, and he continued to ratification of the Single European money to obtain a Yes result in the me-in-law Frank, Harry and Chris, Market Defence Campaign, the campaign against European inte- Act (SEA) treaty, which established 1992 Maastricht Treaty referen- daughters-in-law Suzanne and Is- non-party group that campaigned gration and in defence of Irish neu- the so-called "internal market" in dum on the euro currency. The abel and his seventeen grandchil- dren, as well as by neighbours, against Ireland's Accession Treaty trality during the 1970s and 1980s. the EC/EU. Supreme Court ruled that any such friends, admirers and old political to the EEC in the May 1972 refer- As chairman of the ISM he also When the Supreme Court ruled one-sided expenditure in a refer- colleagues across the country. endum. campaigned for a Declaration of In- in the Raymond Crotty case that endum was undemocratic and un-

OBITUARY Edward ‘Neddy’ O’Rourke (1926-2014)

DWARD 'Neddy' O'Rourke, turn up at some meeting he had years, through stubbornness and Party right up until his recent ill- who has died aged 88, deliberately not been invited to, the unwavering belief that there is ness and often took great pride in spent almost his entire storm past a helpless secretary or no such thing as something that telling people that it didn't matter life committed to fight- civil servant, bang his fist on the can't be done, he – along with Eing for fairness and equality for who he was talking to - be it Tá- table and tell those in attendance friends and neighbours in naiste or TD - he would refuse to his fellow workers and the bet- exactly how the situation was terment of his community, so Monasterevin – transformed a treat them any differently than going to be resolved. piece of wasteland into the beauti- much so he was described as Outside of work, Edward was a any fellow member of the party ful Riverside Park. An amenity for the best politician the town of fine footballer into his forties, win- and if he had something to say, he Monasterevin, Co. Kildare never the entire community, its official would say it. had. ning a Junior All-Ireland football title with Kildare and was the last opening by then President of Ire- Indeed, he often remarked that Born to Joe and Katherine in land, Mary Robinson, was the surviving founding member of Bal- when he died he would be buried 1926, Edward was forced to leave proudest day of his life. lykelly GFC, a club with which he standing up as he never lay down school at the age of 12 following An equally momentous achieve- the death of his mother. Despite won a number of county titles for any man in life, why would he alongside his brothers Stephen, Joe ment was the opening of his youth, he could see the in- do so in death. and Seamus. A football man until Monasterevin railway station after equality endured by workers first Edward was pre-deceased by his the very end, Edward's last social years of closure. A Labour Party hand when he and his fellows farm wife Kathleen in 1986 but is sur- hands were stuck with bread and outing before his death was to re- member his entire adult life, Ed- vived and greatly missed by his dripping while the farm owners ceive a commemorative medal to ward put aside party political be- and managers ate the finest cuts. mark the 50th anniversary of the liefs to work with Mary O'Rourke brother Joe, sons Michael, Pat, Joe Because of this, Edward joined club's first county championship. (no relation) to ensure that hun- and Stephen, daughters-in-law the Federation of Rural Workers Even in retirement, Edward dreds of commuters can now use Marie, Hannah and Martina as well and quickly rose through the ranks never gave up fighting for what he the station on a weekly basis. as his grandchildren and great- with a style that often saw him believed was right. In just two Edward was active in the Labour grandchildren. 30 Liberty NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 Sport

By Matt Treacy

OY Keane’s encounter with an irate fan in advance of the Scotland defeat once again Rshone a light into the dark and unhealthy obsessions some have with their sporting idols. Or perhaps ‘anti-idol’ might be a more appropriate Playing hard term for Roy. God knows he must be heartily sick of being beset by those who consider him to be a traitor because of what happened in Saipan all of 12 years ago. Mind you, a chap would have to be exceptionally brave or foolhardy to ball with Roy tackle Roy! Terry Venables, formerly of Chelsea, and indeed of St. Patrick’s of Inchicore, tells a story from the time he was manager of Crystal Palace, during the height of foot- ball hooliganism in the 1970s, of the strange world view of the fan(atic). Following a pitch invasion at Sel- hurst Park, as one of the miscre- ants was being hauled away by the peelers, he turned to Venables in the dugout and said: “The fings wot I do for you, Tel.” Thankfully, Irish sport has had little of the serious crowd trouble Photo that is still prevalent in other countries. The Dubs revival of the 1970s did attract a certain element, Roy Keane keeps a watchful inspired no doubt, as were League eye on the Ireland squad of Ireland hooligans, by what was during a training session last being beamed into homes by year PICTURE: Photocall Ireland Match of the Day and The Big Match. The Dubs violence was a Theatre type of confrontation, where lone ilar incidents, the last one I wit- Perhaps the funniest display of of the Absurd as there was no iden- headbangers take it upon them- nessed being when some lunatic in fan rage is once again Roy-related. word be with Roy. On the team’s tifiable enemy with a “tasty crew” return from the defeat by Scotland and rural folk tend not to travel to selves to attack opposing players, Nowlan Park decided to jump on During the “national crisis” that in Glasgow, one journalist insisted matches “mob-handed”, so the officials, referees and occasionally Anthony Daly during a Dublin- followed Keane’s departure from denim-clad boot boys often turned their own sideline. Saipan, his Boswell – Eamon Dun- on interrogating Keane as to on one another. One of the most famous of these ‘God knows he phy – appeared on a TV panel to do whether the incident in the hotel, This was at a time when adults, was when Paudie Ó Sé, then Kerry must be heartily some more navel-gazing. Along- his having been mentioned over unrelated to the delinquents, manager, was punched by an irate side Eamo was a self-appointed the summer in connection with Kerry supporter in Croke Park in spokesperson for “Irish soccer sup- thought nothing of administering sick of being Celtic and Aston Villa, and his 2003. That inspired Ó Sé to de- porters”. I am not certain as to who clips across the ears of ne’er do beset by those book, had been a “distraction”. wells and manys the potential scribe Kerry supporters in general outside of his pot-bellied drinking It would not take a Derrida to de- ‘kicking off’ on the Hill and else- as the “roughest type of fucking who consider him buddies had decided to elevate the where was nipped in the bud by animals you could ever deal with”. a traitor...’ chap to such an exalted position in construct this as your man basi- robust civic intervention. Tommy Lyons, Dublin manager the firmament, but just in case cally trying to get Roy to admit that Nowadays, nihilistic anti-social in 2004 when the Dubs were anyone might question his creden- it was all his fault! beaten by Westmeath, was spat at Kilkenny hurling league match. tials he had come along wearing an elements evince little interest in Those of us present were gen- Roy’s response was more the sport and even the “casuals” of the by a Dublin supporter who hauled eircom jersey and a furry, tri- Cotton Ball in Mayfield, than Left his child along to witness Daddy’s uinely mystified as the predomi- coloured top hat. most infamous League of Ireland Bank café society: “Who the hell do clubs are more objects of scorn courageous act of disappointment nant emotion evinced by Cats It was comedy gold and tears you think you are? I’ve got to an- than fear. with the world, and with poor supporters towards Dublin hurling were rolling down my face as Dun- Sports-related unpleasantness Tommy in particular. folk over the years has been one of phy demanded of his interlocutor, swer to you? No, I don’t.” tends to be more the nature of the There have been occasional sim- pity rather than dislike. “Who is this guy?” Let the last And indeed he does not. CALL AND DROP-IN CENTRE The Region 4 Retired Members’ Section is setting up a call and drop-in centre regarding issues and information for retired members. A room in Connolly Hall, Cork, will be designated for this purpose. Open first Tuesday of every month from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Tel: 01 8794327 Liberty 31 Liberty Crossword NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 PRIZE DRAW to win two tickets to ‘She Stoops to Liberty Conquer’in the Abbey Theatre with an overnight stay in Wynn’s Hotel, Crossword Dublin (see AD below)

1122 334564 5 6 ACROSS DOWN date Closing 7 s or entrie 7 Manufacturing dominant (13) 1 Joined together (4) f ay Thursd 8 Not known to you (8) 2 Painted on Belfast walls (6) is ber 8 9 cem 9 Exhausted (4) 3 Move unsteadily (7) 18th De 014 10 Assign to a group (7) 4 Prefix with surgery or 2 1100 11 12 12 Cunning (5) transmitter (5)

13 14 Subsequently (5) 5 Across the world (6) 16 From Finland (7) 6 Military attacks (8) 1144 15 1166 17 19 Bagpiper's wear (4) 11 Progressive activists (8) 18 20 Take offs (8) 13 Religious service (7) 19 20 21 22 Ancient markers (8,5) 15 Restaurant activity (6) 17 Detail (6)

22 18 "The King" (5) 21 Volcano in Sicily (4)

*Correctly fill in the crossword to reveal the name and address and you will to be entered into a prize hidden word, contained by reading the letters draw to win two tickets to ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ in the The winner of the crossword in the shaded squares from top to bottom. Abbey Theatre with an overnight stay in Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin. competition in the October edition was David Scully, Email the hidden word to [email protected] or post to The winner of the crossword quiz will be Communications Dept., Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 along with your published in the next edition of Liberty. Co. Galway *Terms and conditions apply. Answer: Congress

EILISH MOORE PAINTINGS EXHIBITION

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Eilish Moore at the launch of an exhibition of her SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER paintings by singer Frances Black (right) in the Celebrate Christmas OLIVER GOLDSMITH Ranelagh Arts Centre on Thursday, 20th November. with The exhibition continues until 30th November. BOOKING DETAILS Wynn’s Hotel 4 DECEMBER 2014 – 31 JANUARY 2015 PREVIEWS: 4 – 9 DECEMBER ON THE ABBEY STAGE

TIMES: MON – SAT 7.30PM, SAT MATINEE 2PM TICKETS: €13 – €40 / CONC. €13 – €25 CONCESSION TICKETS AVAILABLE MON-THURS & SAT MATINEES

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