Chippie hopes to chop politicians

A NORTHSIDE carpenter is hoping to give politicians a run for their money in the upcoming election and has put himself forward to run in the Dublin North West constituency on behalf of construction workers who have borne the brunt of the recession.
Andrew Keegan, of Shanliss Road in Santry, has thrown his name into the hat in the three-seater constituency under the banner of the Campaign for Building Workers.
The 48-year-old, who has over 30 years’ experience in the building industry, has been asked to be the voice of all those who have suffered as a result of the collapse of the construction sector.
“I’ve been talking the talk and giving out about the Government for some time now, which is probably why my construction worker friends put it to me to walk the walk and put myself forward in the general election,” he told Northside People.
“There are over 100,000 unemployed construction workers out there so I intend to represent them and their families.
“I don’t believe that there’s been a downturn in the construction industry – it’s a complete collapse.
“With thousands of families losing their main wage earner due to the collapse of the construction industry, they find themselves on the breadline, in debt and unable to provide the basics for their families.
“Often they are even unable to maintain a roof over their heads.”
The outspoken father-of-one admits that his chances of getting a seat are “slim” but says he is using the election as a platform to voice the frustration, needs and concerns of those directly affected by the recession.
“I know I probably have a very slim chance of winning a seat but I could be surprised,” he said.

Read More »
January 31, 2011

Kenny highlights plight of building workers

The People before Profit candidate, Gino Kenny, is highlighting the plight of building workers in his constituency. ‘Huge numbers of people in Clondalkin and Lucan worked as building workers and found themselves without work’

Read More »
January 18, 2011

Local Launches of United Left Alliance

The United Left Alliance is being launched through out the country with a number of regional election rallies following its very successful launch in Dublin last month. We expect these rallies will bring hundreds if not more into the ranks of the ULA and strengthen the challenge of our candidates across the country. The ULA is a force on the ascent that will really put its stamp on the Irish political scene in 2011.

Make sure to come along to your local rally, and get involved.
Cork – January 12th
7:30pm in the Metropole Hotel
Speakers: Cllr Mick Barry (Candidate), Anne Foley (Candidate), Joe Higgins MEP, Cllr Seamus Healy, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett
Carlow – January 20th
7pm in the Seven Oaks Hotel
Speakers: Joe Higgins MEP, Conor MacLiam (Candidate) & Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett
Kilkenny – January 20th
8:45pm in Kytelers Inn
Speakers: Joe Higgins MEP, Conor MacLiam (Candidate) & Cllr Seamus Healy
Wexford – January 21st
8pm in the Wexford Arts Centre
Speakers: Seamus O’Brien (Candidate), Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett & Joe Higgins MEP
Dublin West – January 24th
8pm Crowne Plaza, Blanchardstown town centre
Speakers: Joe Higgins MEP (Candidate), Cllr Seamus Healy & Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett

Dublin North- January 31st
8pm The Old School House, Swords Village (opposite Lord Mayors Car Park)
Speakers: Cllr Clare Daly, MEP Joe Higgins, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett

Read More »
January 14, 2011

A real political alternative: United Left Alliance (ULA) formed

United Left Alliance: Building a Real Political Alternative

The economic crisis is resulting in an unprecedented onslaught on living standards, spiralling mass unemployment and a dramatic rise in poverty. Meanwhile billions is being taken from working people and given to bankers, builders and international speculators.

The newly formed United Left Alliance (ULA) which involves  the People Before Profit Alliance, the Socialist Party & the South Tipperary Workers and Unemployed Action Group, is opposed to the governments’ bailouts and the slash and burn policies which are only making the crisis worse. In the general election we aim to provide a real alternative to the establishment parties as well as Labour and Sinn Fein, who also accept the capitalist market and refuse to rule out coalition with right wing parties. The approach of a Fine Gael / Labour government in power would not be fundamentally different than this government.

The ULA will be standing candidates throughout the country and we are inviting all people, campaigns and groups that want to fight for real change and who agree with our demands to become part of the Alliance.

The United Left Alliance (ULA):
1. Rejects so-called solutions to the economic crises based on slashing public expenditure, welfare payments and workers’ pay. There can be no just or sustainable solution to the crisis based on the capitalist market. Instead we favour democratic and public control over resources so that social need is prioritised over profit.

Read More »
November 23, 2010

NEW BATHS PROPOSALS: A LONG OVERDUE STEP FORWARD

Press Release – October 5th

In a statement, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the Save our Seafront group (SOS) has expressed relief that Dun Laoghaire –Rathdown Co. Council has finally put proposals for the redevelopment of Dun Laoghaire Baths before Councillors. 

The proposals were put before Councillors at a briefing meeting in the Council offices earlier this week (Oct 4th) , and included drawings and a minature model. 

The unveiling of the proposals follows protests organised by SOS over recent weeks at the failure of the Council to progress the redeveopment of the baths. 

The new proposals envisage a fully public amenity with a swimming pool, cafe, public viewing area and a walkway around the Baths joining Newtownsmith and the East pier. The proposals put also retain the existing  main baths pavillion and do not reach over the existing height of the baths building. 

Cllr Boyd Barrett said that the new plans represent a 180 – degree turn from previous schemes to build high-rise apartment blocks or reconstruct the entire seafront, and as such were a victory for the public and the Save Our Seafront campaign. 

There are some areas for concern in the proposals – particularly in terms of the envisaged breakwater around the baths that will extend to the east pier and planned changes to the rear entrance to the People’s Park. 

Cllr Boyd Barrett said, however, that the key was now to allow the public to have their say on the new proposals and that those public views should inform the final plan before work on the baths begins. 

The proposals are due to go on public display in the next few weeks. 

Cllr Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the Save Our Seafront group said: 

Read More »
October 19, 2010

PBPA SAYS COUNCIL WORKERS OPPOSITION TO BIN PRIVATISATION JUSTIFIED

BIN CHARGES & PRIVATISATION, PLANNED WATER CHARGES PART OF LONG-TERM AGENDA TO PRIVATISE ALL VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES

 

In a statement, Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA) has said the announcement today by SIPTU that Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council workers will strike against County Manager, Owen Keegan’s, plans to discontinue the Council bin service, were entirely justified.

PBPA said the Manager’s recent announcement of his plan to discontinue the service was the culmination of a long term campaign to privatise waste collection, which began with the introduction of bin taxes ten years ago.

PBPA said that the introduction of bin charges and the commercialisation of waste collection was rigged from the start to favour the private operators and now opened the way for the privatisation of water and other vital services.

PBPA said that private operator PANDA now had a virtual monopoly of waste collection in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, and that even if its charges were slightly lower currently, they would increase in years to come, as had happened everywhere else in the country.

Read More »
July 15, 2010

Oppose the Public Assemblies Bill

Draft legislation published by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the 20th April 2010 ostensibly to deal with the issue of contentious parades, will outlaw all public demonstrations, protests etc that have not given the police 37 days notice. So, trade unions, women’s groups, anti-racist groups, community organisations, political activists – any campaigners – can forget about calling emergency protests if this law goes through.
The notes attached to the Bill give as an example that “if a group wanted to protest against the closure of a local sports facility….the group’s activity would fall under the definition of a public meeting and would therefore be subject to the notification procedures for a public assembly”.
If the Bill becomes law, ALL gatherings involving 50 or more people, and which take place in any “public space” will be required to give 37 days prior notice. “Public space” is defined as “any road or footway or any other place, apart from a building to which the public or a section of the public has access”. This definition would include the grounds or entrances to workplaces, schools, hospitals, government and council offices etc.

It is no accident that this law is proposed now – major cuts in public spending are already underway. This will mean the loss of thousands of jobs, the closure of schools, hospital wards and day centres, cuts to the community and voluntary sector and to all kinds of services and the introduction of water charges. There will be a vital need to resist the cuts.

Read More »
May 5, 2010

Election Manifesto: Eamonn McCann, People Before Profit Alliance, Derry

PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT ALLIANCE
Election Manifesto 2010

We are told that the credit crunch means we have to tighten our belts. But the bankers who brought on the crisis are pocketing billions in bonuses. If these resources were properly used there’d be no need for cut-backs and closures. We’re up for a fight to make this happen.

This view of the world is behind our radical vision for the development of Derry. We challenge the consensus that basing everything on attracting private investment is the only way forward.

We stand for the interests of the working class, the marginalised and oppressed. We believe that it is through organising in communities, workplaces and colleges that we can best advance. We will use the platform of a Westminster seat to support and speak up for grass-roots organisation.

We go beyond Orange versus Green to speak for the common interests of all who have been left behind by the peace process. We are united with People Before Profit in the South. Campaigning for progressive change across the island is the all-Ireland dimension we believe in.

***************************************

If elected, I will use the position of MP to:
* campaign to transform Derry into a vibrant city that is focussed on its people and on public services.
* help organise united action by communities to solve common problems, instead of competition between communities which can flare up at any time.
* encourage grass-roots resistance to the spending cuts imposed by Stormont and Westminster which hit hardest at the most vulnerable. And expose parties which vote for the budgets behind the cuts and then protest against the cuts when they come.

Read More »
April 4, 2010
Picture of Eamonn McCann

Vote People Before Profit Alliance in May’s Westminster Election

VOTE Eamonn McCann No 1

Eamonn McCann, People Before Profit Candidate in Foyle

We are told that the global crunch means we have to tighten our belts. But the bankers who brought on the crisis are pocketing billions in bonuses. If these resources were properly used there’d be no need for cut-backs and closures. We’re up for a fight to make this happen.

This view of the world is behind our radical vision for the development of Derry. We challenge the consensus among the other parties that basing everything on attracting private investment is the only way forward.

We stand for the interests of the working class, the marginalised and oppressed. We believe that it is through organising in communities, workplaces and colleges that we can advance. We will use the platform of a Westminster seat to support and speak up for grass-roots organisation.

We go beyond Orange versus Green to speak for the common interests of all who have been left behind by the peace process. We are united with People Before Profit in the South. Campaigning for change across the island is our all-Ireland dimension.

Read More »
March 24, 2010

Browse

Press Releases

Eamonn Casey:  Hypocrisy And Rape

Revelations about Eamonn Casey point yet again to the gross hypocrisy of the Bishops.These are mostly elderly males who think they have every right to

Sign up For Our Newsletter

Get our Weekly newsletter with all of the latest from People Before Profit

People Before Profit

Join
Donate