DAPSE Minutes, 13.12.2003

international | public consultation / irish social forum | press release

Wednesday December 17, 2003 14:55

by DAPSE - DAPSE

DAPSE Minutes, 13.12.2003

Minutes of DAPSE Meeting,
Saturday, December 13th, 2003.
Teacher’s Club.

Brendan Young, Fergus , John Meehan, Aidan McKeown, Miriam Murphy, Carmel Duggan, Deirdre de Burca, Barry Finnegan.

Agenda
Review of Seminar on 6th.
New Year Activities
Alliances / networking.

Seminar
The Seminar on the 6th drew a small attendance, due to other events going on at the same time. The Press Conference was difficult to organise and took a lot of time. Overall, though, the two events were a good start and an effective base to build on. Making the connection to FJ Stummann was good and useful meetings were organised with him and SF and NGOs.

Seminar also succeeded in getting media attention, i.e., Paul Cullen’s article in the Irish Times. Brendan and Miriam’s follow up letter to the Irish Times will be published on Monday 15th. The media covers the IGC every day but deals with the opposing view point only sporadically.

DAPSE needs to develop an effective and strategic way to work with the media, and avoid the naievity displayed by some activists. A list of do’s and don’t’s could be drawn up by DAPSE (Brendan) to guide people in working with the media.

John Meehan will also follow up his letter to Pat Kenny show, perhaps in conjunction with the Green Party.

Potential activities for 2004 include:
Getting DAPSE speakers to talk to the organisations of those people we have made contact with: SF, ASTI, WERRC, Green Party, DCTU and other relevant organisations. Deirdre de Burca will draw up a list of such groups.

Resourcing these talks means that DAPSE members themselves will have to get up to speed on all the technical issues and on presentation / using the media skills. Date for training on technical issues set for December 18th at 6. Possibility of media training will be explored in the new year.
Possibility of getting FJ Stummann back to Ireland in March. . Deirdre de Burca raised possibility of inviting him to speak to the Forum for Europe, along with a speaker from DAPSE.

If he were to be in Ireland at end March, DAPSE could avail of him to stage some event to counter point a presidency event.
At some point in February, Health Ministers meet in Cork. DAPSE will organise something to coincide with this and will approach other groups on this, for example Miriam will contact Doctors for their Communities to let them know about DAPSE. Miriam will also contact Jo Murphy Lawless as a potential speaker for such an event. Miriam continues to research examples of priviatisation of health services and anyone else who can, should do this also.

Pan European Anti Gats Alliance is coming to a head. World Development Movement is working for a mass Local Government Motion passing day whereby anti-gats groups will provide the Local Authorities with motions that they can pass. A global anti-Gats day is also planned.

As Local Authorities have little power in Ireland, contacting them has more PR value than strategic value, but should be done.
DAPSE could meet with independent TDs, either individually or as the Technical Group. Deirdre will check to see if it is possible to meet them before Christmas.
Pascal Lamy is coming to Dublin on January 6th as part of the formal handover of the Presidency. Time is tight, but DAPSE should try to do something. Possibly a press conference (Jo Murphy Lawless, Bernadine O’Sullivan, Mary Lou McDonald suggested as speakers), and / or some street theatre type activity. Could also try to get the Pat Kenny show to cover this, seen as how a preliminary connection was made.

Alliances / networking
The case for building an overarching alliance of groups to create awareness of, and opposition to, the current text of the Constitution and potentially to call for a no vote in the referendum was made. The document produced by the Assembly of the Social Movements was seen as a good base for this.

The case for as inclusive a movement as possible, allowing organisations to contribute from their strengths, was made. DAPSE will be good on lobbying, providing information etc, but other activities will also be important.

Brendan has proposed to the PANA executive and to Daithi Doolin (Sein Finn) that a meeting be called for the 10th of January to set up an overarching campaign and to invite participants of the AEIP meeting on December 13th to this.

Next Meeting:
DAPSE training, Thursday 18th December 6.30 – 8.30. 4 Lower Ormond Quay, D 1.