View Post

Welcome The SDZ.

In #rabble12, Blog, Politics, Print Editionby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

When our Obersturmführer for property developers, Simon Coveney designated the former Glass Bottle plant a Strategic Development Zone, there was plenty of celebratory hoo ha in the media for the 3,000 homes promised as part of the scheme. However far from being an answer to the capital’s housing problem, a little digging leads Rashers Tierney to find this SDZ represents a brewing triumvirate of social exclusion, vulture funds and tech … Read More

View Post

Farewell Farmer.

In Blogby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

Friends of the Earth just published a new report looking into who the real winners will be from the TTIP deal. So what’s the conclusion? “The controversial trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the US could spell disaster for European farming, finds a new report from Friends of the Earth Europe. The report ‘Trading away EU farmers’ reviews modelling studies carried out in the EU and US on … Read More

View Post

A Clare Message.

In Blogby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

Following a unanimous vote by Clare County Council sometime last week, a clear signal has been sent that the TTIP corporate raiding charter being stitched up at the moment is bad news for Irish society, food and labour rights. Brian O’Driscol of Clare Says No To TTIP sent us in the above photo of some local campaigners celebrating and told us how: “Many Irish people have never even heard of … Read More

View Post

Pharmaceutical Assistance?

In Blogby Rashers Tierney1 Comment

One of our readers got in touch about some shenanigans within the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland that is going to adversely affect a predominantly female and part-time workforce. Ailbhe Ní Bhroin’s ma is a pharmaceutical assistant and she claims that the PSI is basically trying to force her and her colleagues out of the work force. They want to redefine their qualifications some 30 years after conferring them. We’ll let … Read More

View Post

What’s The Story?

In Blogby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

Cast your mind back to the RTE leaders debate. RBB was being grilled by Claire Byrne on crime and he mentioned how government cuts had wrecked havoc to a youth project in his area? Well, Oasis had a demonstration today and there’s a short video capturing it all. Trade Union TV posted it about an hour ago saying: “There was a protest against the cuts to the Oasis youth project … Read More

View Post

Foreign Direct Austerity.

In Blog, Politicsby JamLeave a Comment

Above: Trade in services as a percentage of GDP in selected countries and a second graph showing exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP. Aidan Regan unpacks the official EU narrative which maintains that Ireland’s economic recovery is as a result of austerity. Actually, this couldn’t be further from the truth: “In reality, the Irish recovery has nothing to do with austerity induced cost competitiveness and everything to do … Read More

View Post

Shaky Foundations?

In Blog, Politicsby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

Aidan Regan has been reading an EU report and sent us this interesting tidbit about the shaky foundations behind our government’s rhetoric of recovery. It goes like so: “What is leading to an improvement in the Irish fiscal balance? If you listen to the government it is their “tough austerity choices”. This report, just published by the European Commission, debunks that myth. Deficit improvement is almost entirely explained by windfall … Read More

View Post

UNFair.

In Blog, Politicsby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

Pictured: An Irish Housing Network protest just as the Christmas season was ramping up.   The nation is getting grilled again in the international spotlight. This time over our  the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We ratified it back in 1992 and today’s examination will be carried out by a group of 18 independent experts elected by the UN. Michael Barron is he founder of Belong2 and … Read More

View Post

Simple Simon.

In Blog, Politicsby Rashers TierneyLeave a Comment

  Above:  5 Harbourmaster Place, an IFSC building which according to Cillian Doyle houses around 250 companies controlling almost €2 billion worth of assets. But with no employees. How’s that for a recovery? Cillian Doyle of People Before Profit advises Simon Coveney to take a walk down to the IFSC and calls out Ireland on the Counter Punch website for being a tax haven in all but name. It’s a … Read More

View Post

They’re Looting The Town!

In #rabble11, Blog, Culture, History, Illustration, Politics, Print Editionby Donal Fallon1 Comment

While historical re-enactments are all the rage in this ‘Decade of Centenaries’, and we have seen everything from Ulster Volunteer Forces rallies to Fenian funerals re-enacted by enthusiastic historical societies, it’s unlikely we’ll see anyone recreate the looting of Noblett’s sweet shop come 24 April 2016. Donal Fallon has this tale of proletarian shopping in the rare auld times. Somewhat at odds with the popular narrative of the Easter Rising, … Read More