The National Transport Agency (NTA) wants to redesign all Dublin Bus routes. They promise a faster, more efficient bus service with more buses and better frequency for Dubliners. They also promise a more environmentally friendly transport system for the capital. If this was delivered it would mark a major step forward for life in the city. But the reality is not that simple. The plan hinges on 16 new radial bus corridors on the busiest routes – primarily linking outer suburbs with the city centre. At a future (non-defined) date, they also promise orbital routes to link the outer parts of the city together. read full story / add a comment

European Commission issues Court proceedings against Ireland over water quality
More than 1 million Irish drinking water consumers affected by chemical exceedences

The European Commission has opened an infringement case against Ireland in the EU Court of Justice about the exceedances of the permitted level of the chemical trihalomethanes [THMs] in Irish drinking water. The proceedings, resulting from a complaint by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), cover not only the failure to meet the WHO and EU standards in water supplied to over 1 million consumers , but also the failure to comply with the obligation to ‘inform consumers promptly and give the necessary advice’. [1] read full story / add a comment

Imposing a President read full story / add a comment

This recently updated video shows animal exploitation in Ireland in a variety of settings, including slaughterhouses, farms, laboratories, hare coursing fields, and dairy parlours. read full story / add a comment

The Vegan Information Project are saying a sad farewell to Temple Bar Square in the heart of Dublin after featuring its "Vegan Information Day" events there since 2013. read full story / add a comment

Council planner ‘unable to do any enforcement files’
Blames 40% reduction in staff

A west Cork County Council’s planner was ‘unable’ to investigate an enforcement complaint ‘due to workload commitments’ as his ‘planning applications have to take priority’. [1]

Publication of internal mails detailing a ‘significant matter’ comes a week after Dr Áine Ryall of UCC called the lack of enforcement of environmental laws ‘a national scandal’ at a recent EU Law Conference. [2] read full story / add a comment

As some of our Politicians try to get scramblers under new Irish Legislation and other TDs shout about cycle rickshaws being dangerous, the elephant in the room i.e SULKY RACING is treated with silence. When we enquire about Sulkies, we are shuffled from the Dept of Agriculture to Department of Transport to the Gardai , no one wants to know.
Sulky racing causes extreme suffering, distress and death to horses nationwide and also poses an unacceptably high risk to public safety.

A young horse was seriously injured when they broke free from a sulky they were forced to pull on the Kilkenny to Waterford Road then smashed into an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured but was left badly shaken by the incident. Due to the severity of the horses’s injuries, a vet had to be called to the scene to euthanize the horse to prevent further suffering.

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The Heritage Bill completed its passage through the Oireachtas last night, despite widespread opposition from environmental groups, opposition parties, and concerned citizens and farmers working together with biodiversity.

The Heritage Bill will allow for a relaxation of the dates of the closed period for the burning of vegetation and ‘the cutting, grubbing, removal and otherwise destroying of hedgerows’ contained in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act (1976 and amended 2000)[Note 1] The legislation will allow burning of our upland and lowland hills in March, extending the open period for burning by one month, and for the cutting of roadside hedgerows in August [Note2]. read full story / add a comment

HORSERACING, HORSES DESERVE BETTER.
“HORSE racing abandoned on horse welfare grounds due to the extreme heat and distance of the race.” Not in Ireland.
Forcing and whipping horses to race in extreme heat, high temperatures and humidity, lack of air movement, poor ventilation, dehydration and exposure to direct sunlight all increase the danger of serious heat and sun related problems, Irish horses are no exception, especially when they are expected to perform at intense levels, just as racehorses are.
Racehorses suffering heat stress can collapse, sometimes resulting in death. Heat stroke, which occurs over a short period of time – usually when a horse is unfit. Behind the scenes lies a story of immense suffering.Some outcomes of heat stress are falls, seizures, heart damage/attacks and muscle and Soaring temperatures at Cheltenham has seen races abandoned.
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A submission by an environmental watchdog has flagged alleged pollution incidents arising from Dublin Airport’s carparks. An application is before An Bord Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Act to allow the permanent use of 10,880 long term car parking spaces on 36 hectares of land. This is approximately half of the current total capacity of 22,902 cars which currently have only temporary permission. read full story / add a comment

Dublin, June 13, 2018: An art gallery that opened four months ago and located at 24 Baggot Street Upper, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 is celebrating Bloomsday. My motivation for these oil paintings is to celebrate Joyce by introducing colour into his other-wise early twentieth century black & white portraits, ‘to bring our faded images of Joyce back to life’.
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Dutch documentary 'Why We Cycle' is getting its Dublin premiere this Monday June 11, and Sligo premiere on Thursday June 14.

“It is not a film about policy and strategy. Instead, it is more of a manifesto, showing people why they should want to aspire a cycling society,” said Marco te Brömmelstroet (aka Cycling Professor), a producer of the documentary, when interviewed by Carlton Reid of bikebiz.com. read full story / add a comment

In an advanced technological communications era, what a waste and nonsense to even contemplate opening yet another embassy to add to the seventy-four existing Irish missions across the world? read full story / add a comment

Inaugural Irish Defence Forces Values Champion Awards? read full story / add a comment

This is story is being reposted as it is considered to be of noteworthy interest to the issue of Brexit since it will probably have a significant impact on Ireland

Remainers claim that Brexit will be an economic apocalypse. But it provides the opportunity for a radical break with neoliberalism.

Nothing better reflects the muddled thinking of the mainstream European left than its stance on Brexit. Each week seems to produce a new chapter for the Brexit scare story: withdrawing from the EU will be an economic disaster for the UK; tens of thousands of jobs will be lost; human rights will be eviscerated; the principles of fair trials, free speech, and decent labour standards will all be compromised. In short, Brexit will transform Britain into a dystopia, a failed state ? or worse, an international pariah ? cut off from the civilized world. Against this backdrop it?s easy to see why Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is often criticized for his unwillingness to adopt a pro-Remain agenda. read full story / add a comment

On May 25th we in Ireland finally get to vote to Repeal the hated 8th amendment. Here we present the 8 reasons WSM members are voting Yes to Repeal along with many of the articles we have published on the issue in recent months. read full story / add a comment

EU ‘seeks clarification’ over toxic waste site

The European Commission has written to Ireland ‘seeking clarification’ about the remediation work taking place on the hazardous waste site within the defunct steel works Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour. read full story / add a comment

The LÉ Samuel Beckett is one of ten warships taking part in Operation Sophia, or EUNAVFOR Med, nine of which are from navies of NATO-aligned countries. read full story / add a comment

n response to Israel’s horrific massacre of some 60 unarmed Palestinians, and wounding of thousands, yesterday in Gaza, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has organised a series of protests around Ireland to take place today. Protests are expected to continue in Gaza, and casualties are expected to mount. read full story / add a comment

Internal memos from the HSE tell a shocking story of cover up and wilful endangering of lives.

A memo from March 2016 shows that audits on cervical screening tests began in 2010 but it was only six years later, that the HSE noted that ‘the process is reaching the stage of communicating individual case reports’.

In other words, telling doctors and the women concerned about problems found.
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