The following statement, as a contribution to the debate at the conference organised by the R2W unions on June 13, has been agreed between the People Before Profit Alliance,the Anti-Austerity Alliance, and some independent left-wing activists including Cllr Brendan Young.

The Mayday Conference initiated by the Right2Water Trade Unions was designed to bring union members, community groups and political representatives into dialogue about an alternative to the political and economic establishment. We welcome the fact that these unions initiated such a meeting to build a political movement based on the anti-water charges struggle of the last eight months. Unfortunately, the meeting was a limited and invite-only event, without sufficient space for discussion.

Open up and democratise the June 13 conference

To best achieve the potential for this movement, we believe that the process needs to be opened up and democratised. Without grassroots participation, any political initiative will lack the energy and vibrancy needed to challenge the political establishment. So we think the follow up conference on June 13 should have delegates invited from all of the community groups campaigning against water charges, selected over the coming weeks at local meetings.

On June 13, the conference must also be designed to allow genuine debate and maximum inclusion. In place of structured inputs from selected speakers, the event should be bottom-up and participatory. It should be designed to allow as many contributions as possible and allow for decisions to be made by those present.

STATEMENT

Following the weekend's historic victory for equality let's move now to repeal the eighth amendment.

26 May 2015

The Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment welcomes the weekend’s historic victory for marriage equality and calls on the government to build on the widespread support for greater equality in Ireland by calling an autumn referendum to repeal the eighth amendment

Commenting the Coalition’s convenor Ailbhe Smyth said:

STATEMENT

Following the weekend's historic victory for equality let's move now to repeal the eighth amendment.

26 May 2015

The Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment welcomes the weekend’s historic victory for marriage equality and calls on the government to build on the widespread support for greater equality in Ireland by calling an autumn referendum to repeal the eighth amendment

Commenting the Coalition’s convenor Ailbhe Smyth said:

“The landslide victory for marriage equality was a historic and thrilling victory and clears the way for so much unfinished business. We need to build on the huge support for equality shown in the last months and weeks by people of all ages, up and down the country and work to repeal the eighth amendment.

The Fine Gael-Labour government are trying to ram through the sale of Aer Lingus even before TDs return to their constituencies at the June weekend and hear concerns about it.

The unseemly rush shows that the government has something to hide. The sell-off is bad for the Irish economy and bad for workers conditions.

The vote for marriage equality was one of the most positive uplifting developments in Ireland in recent years. It gave LGBT people basic rights but it also sent out a signal that the old Ireland of De Valera and John Charles McQuaid was dead and gone.

The Civil Marriage Equality Referendum is about EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS.

VOTE YES TO CIVIL MARRIAGE EQUALITY ON 22nd MAY

In a statement People Before Profit spokesperson and general election candidate, Cllr Bríd Smith, has described the reports that rental property supply is the lowest it has been in a decade a shameful indictment on the government and in particular on the Minister Alan Kelly. Cllr Smith pointed to the failing and the inaction of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly as a factor which is contributing the crisis of homelessness in this country.

On Mayday, the five unions fighting water charges held a conference in Dublin. The aim was to bring union members, community groups and political representatives into dialogue around a progressive alternative to the current establishment. This is an exciting prospect as R2W seeks to build a political alliance that reflects the anti-austerity struggles of the last eight months. To this end, around 200 people were invited, split roughly into the three main groups.

The following statement has been agreed between the People Before Profit Alliance, the Anti-Austerity Alliance and some independent activists including Cllr Brendan Young.

The anti-water charges movement, which has seen hundreds of thousands mobilise and become active in campaigning, has transformed politics in this country. It has forced climbdowns by the government and given people confidence and hope that the austerity agenda can be defeated. It has opened a potential to build a significant Left, working class political movement.