30 06 2009
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Categories : Brid Smith, cherryorchard hospital, Cutbacks, Health, HSE, Irish Politics, People before Profit, respite care
Public Meeting: Putting People Before Profit- Building The New Left
25 06 2009Putting PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT
Building the New Left
Wednesday July 1, 7.30pm
Wynns Hotel, Abbey Street, Dublin
Speakers:
People Before Profit Councillors
Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett
Cllr Joan Collins
Cllr Brid Smith
Cllr Gino Kenny
Cllr Hugh Lewis
All welcome
For further information contact: press@peoplebeforeprofit.ie
087 6775468
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23 06 2009
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Categories : Brid Smith, Budget, Crumlin Hospital, Cutbacks, Drimnagh, Irish Politics, People before Profit
People Before Profit Councillors provide real opposition on Dublin City Council
22 06 2009Once again people in Dublin have voted for change on their City Council. In 2004 Labour was voted in as the largest group, ending Fianna Fail’s domination of the council. Instead of change, the people were treated to a game of musical chairs, with Labour entering a deal to divvy up the Mayorship and committee chairs with Fine Gael, and the sole Green and PD Councillors. When that deal broke down, Labour concluded an arrangement with Fianna Fail. The merry go round now continues with Labour in a deal for the new council with Fine Gael.
Councillor Brid Smith (pictured above) said “We will seek to use our positions as councillors to work with local communities and organisations to organise popular opposition to cuts and increased taxes on the family home. We will work with our fellow PBPA councillors and other like minded councillors across the four Dublin council areas and throughout the state to build a real opposition and movement for change. We also commit ourselves to honour our election pledge to organise regular public forums to report back to those who elected us and to take on board the views of ordinary citizens”.
Councillor Joan Collins (pictured above) said “We will play no part in this charade. We will be voting against the Labour/Fine Gael nominee for Mayor. Our job is to provide a voice for the anger of the people who elected us. Funding from central government has been cut by 7% for this year. This will mean cuts in much needed services. It will mean increases in double taxation charges such as the bin tax. There will likely be an attempt to re-introduce a water tax in the course of this council term. There will of course be no cuts in junkets at the taxpayers’ expense.
We will oppose these measures and provide real opposition to policies which inflict hardship on ordinary families.”
Watch the 1st Dublin City Council Meeting Monday 15th June 2009 at 6.45pm,
Click on link below, where People Before Profit Alliance Councillors Joan Collins & Brid Smith raised the issue of the voting pact of Labour & Fine Gael.
http://www.dublincity.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a=27508&t=0&m=wm&l=en_GB
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Categories : Ballyfermot, Brid Smith, Drimnagh, Dublin City Council, elections, Irish Politics, People before Profit
STOP THE CUTS TO RESPITE SERVICES
22 06 2009
Carers and their loved ones who receive roll-over respite care in Cherry-orchard Hospital have been informed by the HSE that the newly refurbished Beech Unit at Cherry-orchard Hospital is to close indefinitely.
The management at the hospital have told Councillor Brid Smith that the closure of the Beech is due to staff shortages for the Summer months. However, they could not give any guarantees as to when it will reopen.
Nurses who are taking annual leave and maternity leave are not being replaced. The HSE embargo on recruitment is once again seriously hurting patients receiving respite care and their families.
Last year the carers campaigned strongly with Brid Smith to stop the permanent closure of respite care services in Cherry-orchard Hospital. They collected thousands of signatures, lobbied politicians and held two very large demonstrations through Ballyfermot up to the Hospital. The respite care services were successfully re-instated at that time. Following that campaign the Beech unit at the hospital was renovated and extended. This new and beautiful facility will now lie empty due to cuts.
Cherry-orchard management have told Councillor Smith that all roll-over patients would receive respite care in private nursing homes as close as possible to where they live for the duration of the closure. But Councillor Smith says
“The cost to the HSE of placing patients in private nursing homes for the period of the closure of the Beech Unit could amount to more than what it would cost to employ temporary nursing staff. Taking nurses and care workers off the dole would be much more sensible and cost effective. Such workers would be paid and taxed and would not be receiving social welfare benefit. The idea of pumping the money into private nursing homes is objectionable when public money could be used to employ nurses and give the patients the on-going care they deserve in the surroundings they are accustomed to. We call on the HSE to once again change their policy in relation to respite care and to keep the Beech unit open.”
The knock-on effect of the closure of the Beech unit would mean shifting permanent patients into other units such as the Laurel. It will also mean longer waiting periods for families whose loved ones need permanent respite beds in the hospital.
Carers and their families will be holding a public meeting in Ballyfermot on Tuesday 30th June at 8pm in the Civic Centre along with the local councillors. It is their intention to campaign yet again to save the respite services and put pressure on the HSE to keep the Beech unit open. Brid Smith said “The carers and their families are ready and willing to march and fight again to save these services. This public meeting is for all concerned across West Dublin – in Ballyfermot, Bluebell, Palmerstown, Tallaght and elsewhere.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT COUNCILLOR BRID SMITH AT 087 9090166
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Categories : Brid Smith, cherryorchard hospital, Cutbacks, Health, Irish Politics, People before Profit, respite care
22 06 2009
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Categories : Ballyfermot, Brid Smith, Budget, cherryorchard hospital, Cutbacks, Health, Irish Politics, People before Profit, respite care
17 06 2009
Grass Roots Unite conference
RECLAIM THE TRADE UNIONS
Fight the Government Cuts
Conference Saturday June 20th 2-6pm
Unite Hall, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1
SESSIONS ON:
Fighting pay cuts;
Stopping cuts in services – health, education, social welfare;
Action on unemployment and defending pensions;
How we can make bankers and speculators pays for the crisis
Grassroots Unite:
The Conference is being organised by a group of trade union activists from a variety of trade unions in both the public and private sectors.
The leaders of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are in talks with the Fianna Fáil Government trying to reach agreement on a programme of cuts in living standards and social services.
This collaboration is totally against the interests of ordinary union members. Trade unions should be leading the fight against the cuts.
A conference on June 20th will be an opportunity for trade union activists, unemployed people and others to discuss an alternative strategy and to begin the fight-back.
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Categories : Ballyfermot, Brid Smith, Budget, Cutbacks, Drimnagh, Irish Politics, People before Profit, union, Unions
THE FIGHT BACK HAS BEGUN
8 06 2009
Brid and Joan together after winning their seats
People Before Profit Alliance win 5 Local Election Seats- Brid Smith (Ballyfermot /Drimnagh), Joan Collins (Crumlin), Richard Boyd Barrett (Dun Laoghaire), Hugh Lewis (Ballybrack), Gino Kenny (Clondalkin). Congrats to all & thanks to all that voted!
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Categories : Ballyfermot, Brid Smith, Drimnagh, elections, Irish Politics, People before Profit
