Jobless man 'applies' for city councillor job, launches election bid

dublin | politics / elections | press release Wednesday April 29, 2009 19:22 by ErikEblana erikeblana at yahoo dot com 086 4005456

A Ranelagh based jobseeker has today completed his nomination papers to ‘apply’ for the job of councilor on Dublin City Council.

Erik Eblana Independent Candidate Pembroke Rathmines

Mr. Erik Eblana, 40, who has been campaigning for a change to the Enterprise Allowance scheme, will run as an Independent candidate for the Pembroke-Rathmines constituency.

‘I’m throwing my hat into the ring and applying to the people of Pembroke-Rathmines for this job. They are the interviewer’s after-all, and we, the candidates, the interviewees. The area has a strong independent background and there is a need for a voice supporting arts, culture, heritage and micro-businesses," he said. Mr. Eblana, who is the Assistant Director of the Rathmines Festival, also called on other job seekers around the country to seek election as independents and to challenge the party consensus at local authority level.

‘I would encourage jobseekers to stand for election. Our skills, whether unemployed or not, are a valuable asset to our communities and local government. Among the ranks of the unemployed there is now a range of expertise which could and should be utilised in policy implementation.

In a statement he said: "As one of the thousands of new unemployed people I discovered the system and supports available to us who want to set–up businesses strikingly un-enterprising. There is a deficit of representation for ordinary men and women who find themselves in this position and I believe I can represent the interests of those who, through no fault of their own, are unemployed. The City Council must be reflective of all strands of society, including those seeking employment. I would like to contribute my experiences and ideas to face-down these challenges and help shape an enterprising and inclusive future for all Dublin citizens."

Mr. Eblana, a local poet and blogger, has been trying to set-up a heritage walking tours business along the Grand Canal. The micro-business would be based on a narrow-boat moored along the banks of the waterway made famous by poet Patrick Kavanagh. But the culture based idea has been sunk by ‘ridiculous qualifying rules’ around the Enterprise allowance scheme. Unemployed people can only avail of the scheme after 2 years on the live-register. This will be changed to 1 year if measures in the current Social Welfare Bill are approved and enacted.

‘This is crazy, as most people are fired-up to act on their business ideas now, not in 2 years time. Research shows that the longer people are left unemployed the harder it is for them to get back into the workforce. People become de-motivated,’ he said.
The Pembroke-Rathmines constituency is the biggest on the southside of the city. It takes in the villages of Sandymount on the east through Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, and Rathmines and includes parts of Terenure as-well as Rathgar and Donnybrook.

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