Community Worker to stand for ISN in Finglas

national | politics / elections | news report

Monday January 12, 2004 14:05

by Colm Breathnach - Irish Socialist Network

irishsocialistnetwork at dublin dot ie

John O Neill, a Finglas community worker, is standing as a socialist candidate in the Finglas Ward, Dublin City, in the upcoming local elections. With the three local T.D.’s handing their council seats over to relatively unknown newcomers, there will be a unique opportunity for him to make a breakthrough as a candidate standing on a clear platform of class politics.

John has worked in a lone parents' community development project for the last 10 years. He is a committed voluntary community activist and is the chairperson of Finglas Childcare, a local group providing quality and affordable crèche facilities to people in Finglas. He had worked previously as a printer. An experienced political activist, he played a key role in the success of the Workers Party in Finglas during the 1980s. Unlike some of his former colleagues, John has remained committed to a radical democratic vision of socialism.

John is the candidate of the Irish Socialist Network, a democratic socialist and non-dogmatic marxist organisation mainly active in the Finglas area. He has an unrivalled campaigning record. Most recently he spent a fortnight in Mountjoy Jail for participating in a peaceful Anti-Bin Tax protest in Finglas South. He is also an active peace campaigner and was the main organiser in the Finglas area for the massive anti-war demo that was held in Dublin on February 15th of last year.

The ISN is participating in the local elections to encourage people to organise themselves in their communities and workplaces so that they can fight to win in the struggle for issues such as a housing programme that seriously tackles the waiting lists, an equitable health service and a decent education for all our kids. John is making one simple promise; that he will use his position to encourage and assist that empowerment process rather than pretending that councillors can implement change from above.

The vicious cuts being implemented by the Fianna Fail/PD Government in Finglas will be highlighted by John during this election. These include the run down of CE schemes which provide essential services to the people of Finglas as well as a pathway back to work for the unemployed. Such cuts will hurt the most vulnerable in our community and must be overturned.

In line with its vision of participating with others in building a broad party of the working class, the ISN hopes that it will be possible to put together a united slate of community and radical left candidates in the local elections. The ISN will participate in any such initiative either at a national or Dublin level.

PHONE: JOHN O NEILL 0876367175 OR COLM BREATHNACH 087-9487554