Deirdre De Burca launches her Euro-election campaign

Green Party European Election candidate, Sen. Deirdre De Burca and Roderic O'Gorman

I attended Sen. Deirdre De Burca’s campaign launch for the Euro Elections last night in the Science Gallery in Trinity. A really enjoyable evening.

Deirdre has created a fantastic website – www.whatistandfor.ie . This contains a number of Youtube videos in which she sets out the key issues upon which she is campaigning – green jobs for Dublin, more democracy within the European Parliament etc.

A key element of the website is that people can upload their own views on what they believe is important. I know a key concern of Deirdre’s is how detached the public are from politics at the European level. This is why she wants to create a conversation (terrible cliché but its genuine here!) about what voters in Dublin would like to see their MEP doing.

The website is also integrated with Facebook, Twitter, Flicker and Myspace. I’m pretty proud of this site but I think Deirdre’s sets a whole new level in the Irish context.

I am Deirdre’s first substitute candidate for the Euro-Elections. That means that if Deirdre gets elected and something happens that means she can’t continue being an MEP, I would replace her. This has led to a lot of joking along the lines of if she does win the seat in Dublin, she should never let me walk behind her down a stairs!!

I’ve known Deirdre for a long time and she has always been hugely interested and knowledgeable about European issues. At a time when a large amount of our national laws originate through the European Union, I believe she will be a hardworking representative for the people of Dublin and I urge you to give her your No 1. vote in the European Elections on 5th June

Press Release – O’Gorman welcomes ban on the importation of dog and cat fur

30/12/08

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has welcomed the EU wide ban on the importation and sale of dog and cat fur which came into effect on the 31st December, 2008.

“It isn’t widely known, but each year over 2 million domestic dogs and cats are killed in China and other Asian countries and their fur is used in the fashion industry – often as the lining or the trim for clothes that end up being sold in European shops. The methods of slaughter used are particularly barbaric, with the animals often being slowly strangled or bled to death in order to ensure that their fur is not damaged. The vast majority of Irish consumers would be appalled by these practices, but the items of clothes in which dog and cat fur are used are never marked as such. Indeed, sometimes dog or cat fur is labelled as being synthetic”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“In order to reassure consumers that they are not likely to mistakenly buy such products, the EU has introduced a ban on the import and sale of all dog and cat fur products within the 27 Member States. The regulation was originally passed in November 2007, but Member States were given just over a year to change their national laws to make the trade in these products illegal. In Ireland, the Minister for Agriculture enacted the ban into our domestic law by a statutory instrument which was passed in November”.

“I’m delighted that the EU has enacted this ban on dog and cat fur products and that the Irish Government has moved swiftly to guarantee the ban under Irish law. I remember seeing an undercover documentary made about the slaughter of dogs and cats for fur and it showed unbelievably cruel and barbaric means of killing these animals. I believe the vast majority of Irish consumers would never buy products if they knew they contained these products. As a result of this ban, Irish shoppers can be reassured that their clothes will not contain cat or dog fur”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

Press Release – Greens Select Deirdre De Burca as Euro Election Candidate

Green Party European Election candidate, Sen. Deirdre De Burca and Roderic O'Gorman

16/09/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the selection of Senator Deirdre De Burca as the party’s candidate to run in the Dublin Constituency in the Euro Elections next year. At the selection convention in Liberty Hall, Roderic O’Gorman was chosen as the party’s ‘first replacement’ for Senator De Burca.

Speaking after the selection convention, Senator de Burca stated:

“I am delighted to have been chosen to represent the Green Party in the European elections next year. The Greens have a real chance of regaining an MEP for Dublin. We held this seat from 1994 to 2004 and I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging election campaign”.

“The EU has shown excellent leadership on issues close to Green Party hearts such as human rights and environmental protection and has shown itself to be an international leader on climate change. The Greens in Europe have been at the centre of this movement. I feel it is important that the Irish Green Party is part of the progressive politics that are happening now at an EU level”.

At the selection convention in Liberty Hall, Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman was selected as the ‘first replacement’ for Sen. De Burca. This position means that should Sen De Burca be elected an MEP but be unable to continue in the role, Roderic O’Gorman would become the MEP for Dublin without the need for a by-election.

“I’m delighted that the Green Party are running a strong candidate like Deirdre De Burca in the European Elections. I believe on issues like climate change, energy and human rights, Deirdre will bring a distinctive voice to the election campaign and I will be working hard to help her get elected”.

“I’m also very pleased to have been chosen by the Dublin members of the Green Party for the position of first replacement. While right now my priority is being elected for the Castleknock/Blanchardstown ward so I can represent Dublin 15 on Fingal County Council, I have a major interest in European affairs as a lecturer in EU law”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
rodericogorman@gmail.com