The Green Party have announced that Oisín Ó hAlmhain is to run as their candidate in the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh area for the local elections in 2014.
Oisín is a father of 2 living in the railway estate in Inchicore who has been involved in green issues since 1992 when he and other students there successfully lobbied Trinity College to introduce glass recycling. Other achievements include being a founding member the monthly Dolphin’s Barn Canal cleanup and involvement with the Inchicore on track campaign, and has long been an advocate for buying locally from independent retailers.
He is an experienced hospital pharmacist, having worked for over a decade in state hospitals with a brief period spent in a mission hospital in Uganda. Currently he holds the Health spokesperson portfolio for the Green Party.
As a champion of next generation democracy, Oisín is trying to empower residents across the city by promoting the use of sites like www.SeeClickFix.com and www.FixMystreet.ie to get citizens problems solved in a transparent manner.
Oisín stood as the Green Party candidate in Dublin South Central in the 2011general election, achieving the highest vote among Green Party candidates who were not sitting members of the oireachtas.
“I am delighted to be selected as a candidate for this area,” he said. “The can do attitude of people in Inchicore and surrounding areas has struck me since I became a St. Patrick’s athletic season ticket holder with the 500 club 10 years ago. I am looking forward to getting out there and representing people who are empowering themselves to get out and fix Dublin. There are many such people in communities like Drimnagh, Ballyfermot Inchicore and Dublin’s tidy town winners in Chapelizod,”
You can also find Oisín on twitter at @OisinOhAlmhain or Facebook at VoteForOisin.
More information:
Oisín Ó hAlmhain, 087 1736590
Oisin@real-Dublin.ie
Notes for editors:
A more complete biography for Oisín is available from www.real-Dublin.ie
The abolition of the Seanad would effectively increase the Dáil’s power by removing scrutiny of bills.
It would also remove democratic safeguards for certain actions that require the approval of both houses, such as impeachment of judges or the president.
The power of the president to refer a bill to the people (currently at the request of the Seanad and one third of the Dáil) would also be removed.
Fine Gael’s claim of savings of €20 million is dishonest, and is apparently their main argument, but even if abolition could save that much, it is a small price for better and less partisan scrutiny of bills.
Their other argument for it is that there would be fewer politicians (as if that is an advantage in itself). This is populism and not a real benefit: The alternative to politicians is dictatorship.
A century ago, the brave working people of Dublin took a stand against the exploitation of workers in the city. A century on the biggest threat to our futures is the exploitation of our environment. Is it time to stand up to businesses, and make sure that they are taking care of our resources properly?
Will the environmentalists of today be seen in the same way as Larkin and Connolly are?
Instead of real action on the environment and energy use, the government have bowed to the William Martin Murphy’s of today and published a weak climate change bill with no targets.
We need to strive to achieve the triple bottom line of Economy, Ecology and Equity, instead of just “adding the half pence to the pence” in the words of Yeats.
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Teachers from some of our local colleges are campaigning for better student/ teacher ratios for further education in the city. This September, the Dublin area will lose 45% of the non-pay budget and up to 50 teachers. Our young people deserve better. This Government is creating a scrap heap generation.
Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Crumlin, Liberties, Pearse Colleges of Further Education deliver courses locally and enable the people of Dublin 8 and 12 to get the skills needed to find jobs. The Government appears to want to direct money towards short courses provided by private contractors such as the Springboard and Momentum projects. These projects provide students with no clear pathways to third level education or jobs. Taking the money away from the VECs is unsustainable.
If you would like to join this group of adult education teachers, they will be protesting outside Dáil Éireann on Kildare Street on Thursday 25th April 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
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The Green Party has always valued quality of life. The recent proposals for Croke Park II appear to be put forward in budgetary terms only. We very much value the work of front line Gardaí, nurses, teachers and other civil servants, and would be concerned at any measures that might make their lives and work more difficult.
We await any real evidence that this agreement will improve efficiency or performance of the public service, and that it is not merely another stick to beat public servants with.
At our January 2012 meeting a lively discussion was held on the subject of nuclear energy. James Lovelock, author of the Gaia Hypothesis suggested that nuclear power could be used as a sort of “methadone” replacement therapy to deal with our addiction to fossil fuels, in order to reduce the problems associated with their continued use.
The issue was raised by greens in other countries after last years Japanese earthquakes. The group felt that it was appropriate to have a debate.
The view was put forward that, because of the cost associated with building nuclear power stations, it was not an option for an island such as Ireland. It is necessary to have a number of reactors in any system as it takes a long period of time to power down and recharge each reactor. A strong transmission network for large amounts of electricity is also needed. Nuclear power systems can be very centralised, and many at the meeting felt they would prefer a system where the power was more decentralised. The scale of nuclear power is currently very large.
Fusion nuclear energy was mentioned as a possible alternative to fission, which might result in less of a waste problem. However, it was felt that the promises regarding this form of nuclear energy were a long time coming to fruition, and that it might be some time yet. The scale of such reactors was also seen to be too big and too centralised for Ireland.
The health implications of nuclear power were mentioned. It was stated that it can be statistically difficult to prove that any health issues (e.g. cancers such as leukaemia) are caused by nuclear energy or radiation due to confounding variables (so many other things can cause the same diseases that radiation is associated with), although graphs from national cancer statistics do show concentric circles of increasing incidence of cancer, highest in Dundalk which is the closest place in Ireland to the Sellafield Nuclear plant in England. (Not scientifically accepted)
The moral issue of using electricity, generated by nuclear power, which has been imported from the UK was mentioned.
Other problems identified with nuclear power were the C02 generated in the construction of power plants, and the risks from terrorism to such a large centralised facility as would be needed. Dealing with the waste is an issue as it takes a very long time for radioactive isotopes to break down,
Another issue was the overall issue of energy. In terms of energy, Ireland could concentrate on wind and wave energy. It was noted that the issue of energy seemed to be receiving less prominence as Eamon Ryan is no longer the minister.
There was a feeling in the room that we we should be starting to live a “powered down” post-carbon lifestyle. This debate needs to be made more prominent by the Green Party. The current recession should be an opportunity to go cold turkey on nuclear power.
A self sufficient community, called “M Power” in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow was mentioned, as Wind turbines owned by the community were being installed as part of the “Smart Green Towns” initiative (see http://www.res.ie/) and covered on RTEs “Eco Eye” (see http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/eco_eye.html) . These allowed the community to become net distributors of energy. It was discussed that farmers felt that they were not getting enough for electricity which was being sold to the national grid. The possibility of local communities doing their own water harvesting was also mentioned, which would save on water charges in the future. The meeting felt that a general “Power Down” approach, where local communities produced their own energy, grew their own food and became self sufficient was the way forward.
The Dublin Community forums are pursuing a “Green Hand Charter” (see links here http://dublincommunitygrowers.ie/global-ideas/land-use-advocacy/) approach to fallow land in the city. There seems to be some disconnect with the City council on this, although the new Community Garden in Weaver’s Square, Dublin 8, was almost developed on these principles, with the landowner taking back ownership for one 24 hour period per year.
The Blarney Park allotments/Community Garden were discussed. It was noted that frequently a small number of individuals take over these groups, and then another group of people tend to oppose change, sometimes on a “NIMBY” (Not In My Back Yard) basis. When community consultation has taken place. Examples cited were the opposition to the crèche on Windmill Road. Part of the problem was that community groups are not necessarily representative, and there are no local plebiscites, which means that there is no real local democracy in action in Dublin.
Access for everybody ahead of 2012 EU Accessibility Act
A Europe-wide wheelchair survey was organised this month by the European Greens to show what obstacles people with a disability face in the public sphere. The local branch of the Green Party in Dublin 8 will carry out their survey this Saturday (30th) starting outside the Dublin Food Co-Op in Newmarket Square at 11:30.
We plan to walk through the main Liberties shopping areas of Meath Street and Thomas Street pushing wheelchairs and prams to see what obstacles are faced by wheelchair users when going about their daily activities. We plan to record details of unsuitable footpaths and surfaces and bring them to the attention of Dublin City Council using the http://www.seeclickfix.com service. We will also provide a report to our European Green colleagues so that they may compare us with similar cities in Europe.
The physical obstacles faced by disabled people, like gaining access to a school or work place, prevent them from participating fully in society and make them victims of social exclusion. Lower employment and education levels mean the poverty rate for those with disabilities is 70% higher than the average.
At a European level the Greens intend to put pressure on the European Commission, ahead of the presentation of the ‘European Accessibility Act´ later in 2012. It would set EU standards for products, services, and public buildings. For example, it would make it easier for manufacturers of assistive devices like wheelchairs or large print keyboards to trade across borders, bringing costs down.
“We are delighted to take part in this Europe wide initiative,” says Oisín Ó hAlmhain, local representative for the party in Dublin 8, “especially given that the voice of wheelchair users is not heard in Irish society, and many redevelopment projects fail to take them into account. Improving the environment for wheelchair users also makes things easier for parents with prams and for older people with other mobility problems.”
“The European Greens want to make sure everyone in Europe can shop, work, go out and do all the things a full life has to offer, irrespective of physical ability”, said Green MEP Marije Cornelissen. “Social inclusion of all members of a society is not only a moral imperative, but an unalienable right of any citizen, as well as a basic requirement for a free, participatory, peaceful but also innovative and dynamic society”.
With this wheelchair-survey, the Greens are the first political family to hold a Europe-wide local action on this issue. Over 15 cities across Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, the Nederlands and the United Kingdom are participating this year in this innovative Europe-wide initiative.
“We stand for a Europe which guarantees all citizens the possibility to emancipate themselves, to establish their own lives in diversity and to participate in society”, said Cornelissen. “Citizens must enjoy equal opportunities and equal rights, and benefit from an active social policy and a robust social protection across society. These objectives are as important as the ecological and economic objectives: social welfare is a value, not just a cost.”
Information and images from will be available on our website at www.dublinsouthcentralgreenparty.com and at www.wheelchairsurvey.eu
More details on exactly what we plan to do is available from:
And a short explanatory video is available here:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdZa0nzT13T8%26feature%3Dshare&feature=share&v=dZa0nzT13T8&gl=IE
The event will also be part of “Just Do it Green Day” and our members hope to demonstrate their dedication to improving the Ecology, Equality and Economy of the world in which we live. Many other local groups have organised events in their own areas and it is hoped this will help to reignite interest in national Green issues.
Apart from energising our members, the day of action is aimed at demonstrating that the Green Party is as dynamic as ever and is still in a position to act on behalf of the Irish public.
A promotional postcard will be sent out by Party members to members of the media, potential new members and proven Green supporters. This postcard carries a strong message about what motivates us as members and the unique way in which the Green Party conducts its business free from corporate influences.
The Green Party is still active in Irish politics and is especially active at local level. In addition to Steven Agnew, our MLA in Northern Ireland, we currently have 16 locally elected Councillors across the island of Ireland, 5 of whom have served or are serving at Mayoral level.
The Green Party has always worked hard to make this country a better place in which to live, and we will continue to strive to achieve a sustainable and Green future for the many generations to come.
For more information, or if you would like to join us, contact Oisín Ó hAlmhain at 087 1736590 (or see contacts page)
The group have a busy few months to come. If you would like to join the group at any of the following events, please contact the secretary (see about page)
On May 13th (Sunday), the Harold’s Cross village council will be holding their annual festival in the park in Harold’s Cross.
May 13th is also the date for the monthly Grand Canal Cleanup at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge. (1pm)
On May 30th (Wednesday) the monthly meeting of DSC Greens takes place Upstairs in Rosie O’Grady’s, Harold’s Cross.
June 10th (Sunday 1pm) monthly Grand Canal Cleanup at Dolphin’s Barn Bridge.
On June 16th (Saturday), the group plan to carry out an accessibilty audit in neighbourhoods in the Dublin 8 area, location to be announced. More details at http://www.wheelchairsurvey.eu/
On June 16th (Saturday – date to be confirmed) Re-Cycle Dublin Community Growers annual Community Gardens cycle June 17th (Sunday) is the date for picnics across Dublin see http://www.streetfeast.ie/ June 27th (Wednesday) is the date for the monthly Meeting of DSC Greens, Upstairs in Rosie O’Grady’s, Harold’s Cross. There will be no July meeting. August 30th (Wednesday) Monthly Meeting of DSC Greens, Upstairs in Rosie O’Grady’s, Harold’s Cross, theme: Newsletter Editorial Meeting
In September (dates to be announced) the Green Foundation Ireland will be holding a Summer School in Carnesore Point, County Wexford. Wednesday 26th September, AGM of the Dublin South Central Branch of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas Saturday 29th September: “Harvest in the City” community festival in Wolfe Tone Square, Jervis Street,
The Grand Canal Cleanup Group will be taking part in the An Taisce National Spring Clean again this year. The plan is to clear the rubbish on the “Dolphin’s Barn House” side of the bride (at Dolphin’s Barn) on Sunday 15th April at 1pm.
For those who don’t want to get as dirty, we would welcome any help we could get picking the litter in the usual places on the banks of the canal. Rubbish bags, gloves and litter pickers will be provided.
The Dublin South Central Branch of the Green Party are proud to announce an interview with Green Collar Hero LaDonna Sanders Redmond of the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) through Skype link at our meeting on 29th March.
LaDonna, from the Southside of Chicago started growing her own food in derelict land in response to her difficulty in finding fresh organic food for a child who had health problems. She has been cited as an inspiration by former White House environmental guru Van Jones and others. (see http://www.theroot.com/views/green-collar-hero-ladonna-redmond)
The IATP works locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. (http://www.iatp.org/about)
The Dublin South Central branch are the local group of Green Party members in Dublin 6W, 8, 10 and 12. We believe in making Dublin a better place to live and work, contributing to a sustainable Irish environment. The Green Party believes in local solutions to local problems and a ‘bottom up’ approach. (www.dublinsouthcentralgreenparty.com)
Green party members locally in the South West of the city think that encouraging the public to grow their own food promotes better health and is more sustainable. There are large tracts of currently unused land which are now ideal for development as community gardens and allotments by local people. This interview aims to support and bolster community interest in this subject.
The meeting is open to the public, but space may be limited. It will take place upstairs in Rosie O’Grady’s Pub on the Harold’s Cross Road, at 8pm on Thursday 29th March. We would appreciate if anyone wishing to attend could contact the secretary of the branch, Oisín Ó hAlmhain, who is available at 087 1736590 or by e-mail at secretary @ dublinsouthcentralgreenparty.com
The physical obstacles faced by disabled people, like gaining access to a school or work place, prevent them from participating fully in society and make them victims of social exclusion. Lower employment and education levels mean the poverty rate for those with disabilities is 70% higher than the average.
