Revolutionary Socialist standing in local elections

national | politics / elections | press release Thursday May 13, 2004 09:28 by Michael Gallagher mglibertypics at hotmail dot com 33d Liberty House, Railway Street, Dublin 1. 086 4048249

Goals and Promises

MICHAEL GALLAGHER
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST

LOCAL ELECTION CANDIDATE

I am formally launching my campaign to stand in the North Inner City Ward as an Independent Socialist.
Born in the North Inner City, where I have lived - and struggled - for most of my forty-seven years, I will continue to fight for my community and the working class in the battles ahead against the capitalist system. In a time of unprecedented wealth, the divide between the rich and the poor has widened even further, pushing people even more to the margins and the growing 'underclass'.

Michael Gallagher
Revolutionary Socialist

Independent Socialist candidate in the Dublin North Inner City Ward.

Born in Dublin's North Inner City, where I have lived - and struggled - for most of my forty seven years, I will continue to fight for my community and the working class in the battles against the capitalist system.

AGAINST CAPITALISM
I am the organiser for the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign in the North Inner City and set up the campaign in Ballybough, Donaghmeade and Donnycarney.

In my time as a community activist for more than ten years, it has been a time where the 'creeping capitalists' have literally being taking the ground from under our feet.

The selling off by the government and city council of vast tracts of our land and housing to fat cat speculators etc. has been nothing short of scandalous. Even more outrageous is the fact that this was done with the connivance of so called 'socialist' community workers, councillors and TD's (the Labour Party etc.) in City Hall and the Dáil.

In a time of unprecedented wealth - created by workers - in this country, the divide between the rich and poor has widened even further, which has resulted in even more people being pushed to the margins and the growing 'underclass'.

Corruption, privatisation, rising unemployment, inflation, bin taxes, threatened water charges, a deformed health service, rat infested schools, racism and broken promises, the list goes on. That's what this rotten government and its rotten system has been dishing out before and since it's election.

Gardai & THE COMMUNITY
The Gardaí should be accountable to the communities they are supposed to protect. The Complaints Board must not be allowed to have members who are Gardaí, ex-Gardaí or people who would be deemed to be biased in their favour.

The Board's powers should also be widened to open up past cases where it is established that Gardaí or former Gardaí have questions to answer with regard to assaults and perjury. Any Gardaí convicted of any of these should be dismissed - not transferred.

DRUGS AND CRIME
A review of how to tackle the drugs issue must be undertaken. More investment in prevention and education in primary and secondary schools must be a priority.

Drug treatment and rehab facilities for communities that need them.

Seizures by C.A.B. of drug barons' wealth should be re-invested in the lives and communities they have devastated.

More facilities for prisoners, including the introduction of a needle exchange programme. Investigations into alleged miscarriages of justice.

COMMUNITY ACTION
I am founder member of my local residents association. Dublin City Council must let residents associations run their own affairs without interference. All residents associations must be democratically elected and answerable to the residents. There are too many self-appointed and hand picked (by D.C.C.) residents’ associations in Dublin - their main purpose being the smooth handover of public land and housing to the private sector.

I am an active member of Tenants First, a citywide group set up to combat the sell off of public land and housing to speculators and private landlords.

I am involved in voluntary community work and fundraising for sports facilities.

I Initiated the re-introduction of Gaelic football for juveniles back into the North Inner City in the mid-nineties, which resulted in establishing a new and successful club, Crinan Gaels, who went on to become a nursery for the local junior club, St. Josephs/O'Connell Boys. They are now amalgamated with St. J/O'C and are very successfully providing Gaelic football and hurling for boys and girls, fielding a number of teams weekly. I am P.R.O. for the juvenile section of the club.

Our children are our, past, present and future. From the cradle to the grave. As the 1916 Proclamation states, "cherish all of the children equally". If this statement were lived up to we wouldn't have the problems we are living with now.

WORKERS’ RIGHTS
A supporter and fighter for workers including the Aldi strikers, opposing the closure of the Irish Glass Bottle Company and cutbacks in C.E. schemes etc.

All people should be allowed join a trade union without any preconditions. The get out clause allowing employers the right to refuse to recognise a trade union, should be abolished. A minimum wage of €9 per hour for all workers over sixteen years of age.

For a fighting revolutionary trade union with all union officials paid the average workers wage -without perks. Union officials should be accountable to the membership and subject to recall if their performance is under question.

An end to all trade union connections - financial or otherwise - with the Labour Party, and a strike fund to be established. These can be major steps in workers reclaiming their unions.

AGAINST RACISM
I have been a member of Residents Against Racism for over four years and I am also a campaigning and founding member of the Campaign Against the Racist Referendum.

All asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants to be given citizenship on application. An immediate repatriation to Ireland of people deported illegally from this country, including those that have applied for status in the last three years and those that have been separated from their families.

An investigation into how the Garda Immigration Unit operates -they seem to be a law unto themselves.

An end to 'direct provision' - all people entitled to welfare should be given their allowance in the same manner.

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These are just some of the issues I have and will continue to fight for, whether I am elected or not. There is a limited amount Socialists can do in any council or parliament, but if enough genuine Socialists are elected, we can stop the rot and reverse some of the damage done by the right wing and the hypocrites.

On May 12th 2004, the 88th anniversary of the execution of James Connolly, I made two promises, in or out of the council I will continue to disturb the political peace and I promise to represent my community and the working class to the best of my ability.

If you wish to talk to me about any issue, contact me at any time.

x Use your vote and use it wisely x
VOTE NO IN THE RACIST REFERENDUM

VOTE NO I
MICHAEL GALLAGHER