Nurses protest at James Connolly

I attended the two hour work stoppage by the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association outside James Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown this afternoon. As you probably know, the nurses are currently engaged in an industrial relations dispute with the HSE over the failure of the HSE to grant nurses a 35 hour working week to bring them in line with other health professionals, and over a pay anomaly which means that many nurses are paid less than care assistants, who must report to nurses.

There was an excellent turn out at the march, with many nurses coming in for the afternoon to show solidarity. The protest also received a very favourable response from the public, with many car horns sounded in support.

Speaking at the rally, I reiterated the position adopted by the Green Party that we support their demands for a 35 hour working week in line with other health professionals. We believe that the HSE must immediately set a date for the implementation of the 35 hour week. When this is done, it will give the necessary space to address the unfair pay anomaly that exists between nurses and certain care assistants.

Press Release – Green Party pledges to tackle alcohol abuse – O’Gorman

07/05/07

Green Party Dublin West candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has pledged that
if they are elected to government, the Green Party will take measures
to tackle the abuse of alcohol in Irish society. He was speaking after
the launch of the party’s Alcohol Policy Document.

“The current Government had pledged to introduce an Alcohol Products
Bill, to regulate the advertising of alcoholic drinks. However, Mary
Harney caved in to pressure from the alcohol industry and withdrew the
bill. Instead, she let the drinks industry engage in
’self-regulation’. We do not think this is in anyway an adequate
response. If we are in government after the general election, we will
re-introduce the Alcohol Products Bill which will end the sponsorship
of sports by drinks companies and ensure that alcohol advertising
cannot be located near schools”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

The issue of drink driving, which has claimed so many lives on Irish
roads, also features prominently in the Green Party Policy.

“We have to face up to the fact that despite penalty points, people
are still taking the risk of drinking and driving. That’s why we are
proposing dropping the blood alcohol level to 50mg/ml to bring Ireland
into line with other European countries. We also are setting a special
limit of 0mg/ml of blood alcohol for drivers on a provisional license
– those just learning to drive should never consume alcohol and then
get into their car”.

“Here in Dublin 15, we have had a number of alcohol related tragedies.
Our proposals reflect this reality and are designed to balance the
enjoyment of alcohol with the dangers that it causes if abused”,
concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Press Release – Use GHOSTs to tackle graffiti – O’Gorman

06/05/07

Green Party Dublin West candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has proposed using
GHOSTs to tackle the scourge of graffiti that is affecting large
parts of Dublin 15. However, the Green Party candidate is not
suggesting that there is a supernatural cure for the graffiti problem!
Rather, he is referring to the idea of graffiti habitual offender
suppression teams (GHOSTs) which would be set up within the Guards to
deal with the issue.

“The idea of graffiti habitual offender suppression teams (GHOSTs)
comes from Bakersfield in California. This is a city about a quarter
the size of Dublin, yet it dedicates significant police resources to
tackling graffiti. The GHOST teams monitor the occurrence of graffiti,
target well known graffiti offenders and co-ordinate anti-graffiti
strategies amongst the local community. I believe we should seriously
consider the creation of such a team in each Garda division,
particularly in urban areas, to deal with what is becoming a rapidly
growing problem”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

The Green Party candidate has made a number of further suggestions as
how other State agencies could assist in tackling the problem of
graffiti.

“Currently, those who engage in graffiti can only be charged under the
Litter Pollution Act, 1997. I believe that we need a specific graffiti
offence, to make clear that those who engage in this behaviour can be
punished. I also believe that we should consider banning the sale of
aerosol spray paints to those under 18, and ensure a more strict
monitoring of sales of these substances to those over 18″.

“Local authorities need to have a greater role in responding to this
problem. In the Green Party, we support the setting up of a new
department within each local authority which will act as a
one-stop-shop for all complaints of graffiti, anti-social behaviour
and noise pollution. Further, each local authority needs to be
resourced with a dedicated graffiti removal unit, which can quickly
eliminate the work of so-called graffiti ‘artists’”.

“Graffiti is not only unsightly – it is also very costly to clean up.
In Dublin 15, much of the graffiti being committed is done on private
property. As such, the clean-up cost falls primarily on private
individuals who are responsible for their property boundary walls. I
believe that if we implement the proposals I have outlined here, we
will make significant progress in tackling this problem”, concluded
Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Actions against graffiti proposed by Roderic O’Gorman

Central Government
- Resource extra Community Guards
- Create a specific graffiti offence in Irish law
- Make it illegal to sell aerosol spray paint to persons under 18

Local Authorities
- Create a one-stop-shop in each local authority which can deal with
complaints regarding graffiti, anti-social behaviour and noise
pollution
- Fully resource a graffiti removal unit in each local authority to
deal with the issue
- Make available certain wall spaces in each local authority where
’street-art’ is permitted

Garda
- Creation of Graffiti Habitual Offender Suppression Teams (GHOST’s)
in each Garda Division which have the role of monitoring graffiti
occurrence, coordinating anti-graffiti strategies amongst the local
community and tackling well known ‘taggers’