Protest Galway Corporations Draconian Bye-Laws

galway | miscellaneous | news report Saturday September 06, 2003 01:05 by Orla Ni Chomhrai - Defend Free Speech, Assembly and Activity nichomhrai at eircom dot net

Protest at City Hall, Monday 8th, 4pm - 7pm. Bring banners, Roller Blades, Skateboards, Kytes, Musical Instruments etc.

There is to be a protest outside City Hall on Monday the 8th starting at around 4pm and continuing until around 7pm to protest Galway Corporations proposed Bye-Laws. These bye-Laws will outlaw leafletting, and place major restrictions on other activities such as Public Assembly (you will need written permission for assemblies of over 100 and they may be banned in certain areas). Also, according to draft of the Parks and Open Spaces bye-laws

'No person shall organise, conduct or participate in any musical performance (whether vocal or instrumental),concert, dance, circus act, parade or other artistic performance or like entertainment on recreational open space except with the permission in writing of the Council and in accordance with the terms and conditions'

Written permission will also be required for making a Film or TV programme.

Many other activities will be restricted to certain areas, these include sports, skateboarding, roller-blading, swimming, fishing, flying a kite, a model aeroplane etc.

These group and individuals have stated their opposition to the proposed bye-laws:

Groups: Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Galway Alliance Against War, Galway Environmental Alliance, Galway for a Safe Environment, Amnesty International, Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Galway cycling Campaign, Galway People's Resource Centre, Women in Media and Entertainment, The Western Writers Centre (Galway), Cairde na Gaillimhe, Galway Anti-Capitalist Movement, Global Women's Strike

Parties: The Labour Party, the Green Party, the Socialist Workers Party, Sinn Fein, Workers Power.

Trade Union: Mandate (Galway),

Individuals: Denis Halliday (former UN Assistant Secretary General), Donnacha O Briain (co-director "Chavez: Inside The Coup"), Jim Cotter (President, Galway Council of Trade Unions), Martin Ward (Mayor of Tuam) John Behan (Sculptor and Art Teacher), John Arden (Writer), Kevin Higgins (Poet), Des Bonass (Dublin Council of Trade Unions), NUIG Academics [Dr Joshua Castellino (Irish Centre for Human Rights), Dr Ray Murphy (Law), Donnacha O Connell (Law), Professor Terence McDonough (Economics), Maggie Ronyane (Archaeology), Dr Lionel Pilkington (English), ]