breaking news: Homeless activists invade the Dail

by Elaine Wed Nov 30, 2005 17:49

... just take the damn petition. Not even Fianna Fail could muck that up surely?

Homeless Black Block - Looking Sharp

So That's How They Get Those Fancy Shots

Pressie For Bertie

Emmet Stagg Models His New Hat For The Lads

Brand New T-Shirts And Hoodies Available Now

by observer2 Wed Nov 30, 2005 17:55

.

by Elaine Wed Nov 30, 2005 17:56

... The homeless are revolting.

Ain't No Stopping Us Now ...

... But You Are Welcome To Try

Social Exclusion - The Lads Get Invited To Leave

Officious Little Man Tries To Grab My Camera Telling Me I Can't Take Photos In Here - Clearly He Is Mistaken As Camera Works Fine

Safety Glass, Security Barrier And Wide Open Gate On The Right - Hmmm - Heads Will Roll

by No Im Spartucas Wed Nov 30, 2005 18:01

rte

30 November 2005 15:59
A group of protestors sparked a security alert at Leinster House this afternoon when they attempted to gain access to the building to deliver a letter to the Taoiseach.

The group, which sought to highlight the plight of the homeless, breached the outer barrier at Kildare Street.

The doors to Leinster House itself were then sealed before they were escorted from the precinct.

by Davy Carlin - Street Seen Wed Nov 30, 2005 18:06

Bertie says he is a 'Socialist' yet the faces of the homeless get younger and more numerous in the 26 that he is Taoiseach of.

To provide the proceeds of today’s sale of the old UCD Veterinary School in Ballsbridge to the homeless would be a small step forward in attempting to deal with the present reality of this dire situation.

Citizens in Ireland are dieing needlessly on our streets, everything, everything possible needs to be done to both highlight and to attempt to change this reality of and for many of our citizens.

Recent report – Ireland Online.

Homeless protestors storm Leinster House
30/11/2005 - 16:19:57

A number of homeless people today stormed the gates of Leinster House, raced across the plinth and staged a sit-down protest at the front entrance.

The group, which numbered half a dozen, was attempting to deliver a petition with 20,000 signatures to the Taoiseach’s office.

Homeless action group Street Seen organised the event to call on the Government to donate the proceeds of a €100m property sale to homeless projects.

Campaigners today rushed through the security hut at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House and reached the main entrance before being stopped by security staff and gardaí.

The homeless people were later removed outside the main front gates by gardaí after a brief protest.

One protester, Dubliner John Saunders, 38 said afterwards: “We just wanted to make our point that we should be listened to in the same way as every other delegation that meets the Taoiseach.”

Street Seen wants the proceeds of today’s sale of the old UCD Veterinary School in Ballsbridge to be donated to the homeless.

“That money is desperately needed in the fight against homelessness. Homelessness is a social problem that requires a political solution, and most importantly the political will to implement the solution,” said spokesman Mark Grehan.

“To date the Government has not shown the political will. Handing over the proceeds of the sale would send a signal to the homeless community that the Government is finally beginning to seriously address this issue.”

Street Seen publishes a bi-monthly magazine which donates 60% of its €1 cover price to the homeless.

It began its current campaign after a number of homeless people died while sleeping rough in central Dublin.

It collected the 20,000 signatures on the streets of the capital in the past two months.

Mr Grehan said the idea to donate the proceeds of the property deal to the homeless originated in a Dublin City Council motion tabled by Sinn Féin’s Cllr Daithi Doolan.

by Elaine Wed Nov 30, 2005 18:08

... The lads take their petition with them. But it ain't over til it's over.

The Homeless Are Revolting!

- Join Them.

Shake The Dust From Your Feet Lads - Does That Symbol On The Barrier Mean No Homeless People

Tis No Use Pointing And Waving Your Arms Around Now

Media Scrum After The Event

20,000 Signatures Mean Nothing To Bertie

C'mere Now And I'll Tell Ya ... Tommy On The Phone To The Taoiseach's Office

by Jon Glackin Wed Nov 30, 2005 19:39

Word has come through that Central Government are to recieve 170 million euro upon the sale of the UCD building...

That figure is almost treble last years budget allocated to homeless services in Dublin

It is more essential than ever to keep up the pressure on Central Government to release that money IMMEDIATLY to address the growing homeless problem in Dublin...

Todays actions highlighted the desperation felt by homeless people who have seen friends die on the streets of Dublin.

Berty Ahern today had not the common decency to come outside the dail and recieve 20000 signatures collected in support of our simple demand.

Tonight over 200 people will bed down on the cold streets of Dublin...

Tonight Berty Ahern will lie in a warm bed..

I wonder will he sleep well?

by Cormac - Grassroots Dissent Wed Nov 30, 2005 22:36

Great work by all the folks in street seen today.
The exposure gained will hopefully bear fruits following the sale of the UCD premises for that staggering sum.
If the government didnt waste so much on their pet projects like computer systems and electronic voting cock-ups,more people would have safe and affordable housing tonight rather than a night on the cold streets.
Now that they have the windfall in their hand as wellas the huge budget surplus its about time they did something useful and really productive with it-and street seen are highlighting such an issue.
Well done and may the fight continue!

by Deirdre Clancy Wed Nov 30, 2005 23:31

Keep up the struggle for justice, Street Seen. We are one of the most abysmal countries in Europe in this area.

by Eoin Dubsky Thu Dec 01, 2005 00:38

Greets from Paris, where the news almost every other morning has reported another death or near-death of a homeless person in France. I pass place Franz Litz daily -- every evening there are at least one or two guys sitting on the footpath, over the grill where warm air comes up. A homeless women was found burned to ashes in what was her make-shift tent last night. And meanwhile there are an estimated 32000 vacant rooms in Paris alone.

by Edward Horgan - PANA Peace and Neutrality Alliance Thu Dec 01, 2005 01:02

Good work "outside" the Dail.
Solidarity from Shannon airport, where 'homeless' prisoners are rendered.
100,000 Iraqi were made homeless as bombs that passed through Ireland were dropped by US soldiers that passed through Shannon. Those 100,000 are no longer homeless, they are dead.

Injustice at all levels must be fought. Keep up your just efforts.
Edward

by Seán Ryan Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:36

Our constitution sees the home as being inviolable. It's a total disgrace that it does not see the right to having one as being the same.

Shelter is one of the needs that constitutes Maslow's "hierarchy of needs." We formed society and we form relationships etc. to ensure that these essential needs are met.

I agree with the government not having a policy that solves homelessness. There should be no homelessness to begin with. If we are not sophisticated enough to provide homes for people, we are not sophisticated enough to have or to need a government. In other words a home is more important than a government.

It is said that modern industry and technology are entities that will equalise people and that this is the largely reason that they exist to begin with. This is a fabrication and a very odious one. A house can hardly be considered a new invention and yet the great majority in this country do not own their own houses. Banks, Building Societies and other parasites own most of our housing. It is not a very complex issue, to build a house, as I said, the technology has been around a while. A functional dwelling can be built by just about anyone and in a timeframe that properly puts in perspective the vastly inflated costs introduced just for the right to live within Irish society.

The word "inclusive," is a defining word when used in describing a pluralist society. The fact that homeless people exist, means we cannot even begin to describe ourselves as pluralist. Not to mention the treatment that the disabled of this country suffer. It's simply the case, that if you are not a "valid," you can't belong.

I salute this group of people for trying to hand their petition to Bertie. But as I said, and especially for them, that they do not possess political representation, nor do they possess a government. So why act in a way that recognises Bertie as being representative?

Why not go to Stephen's Green or dare I say it, Áras and start mixing concrete?

Methinks Bertie may then put in an appearance.

Myself, I'd still ignore him.

We'd be put into prison, you tell me. Well it is food and shelter isn't it. And our joke of a State is at saturation point with the prison system. Wouldn't take much to break it.

Break the system.

In a non inclusive society (ours), the system is set up to cater for the few, and to a much lesser degree it somewhat addresses the needs of the people at large. The fact that society only looks out for the needs of the rich and that this same clique controls society itself, is no coincidence. This means that the rich will never see our society as being broken and so will never attempt to fix it.

Screw Bertie. Build yourselves some houses and focus your actions at getting support from your fellow citizens. If any stormtroopers arrive, describe what you are building as your home, and tell them, that the constitution tells them to respect this and to, "piss off."

My best wishes.

Sláinte,

Seán Ryan

by The Media Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:38

Plenty of media coverage this morning, South and across the Northern papers also.

by Im Spartacus Thu Dec 01, 2005 13:12

Has anyone any links to the Broadcast media reports of yesterdays events?

by Me Thu Dec 01, 2005 13:46

6 and 9 news
http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2095495.smil

by Darren ./ Katerina - Members of International Homeless Forum Fri Dec 02, 2005 07:28 dcbudly at yahoo dot com dot au

In this world, we are faced with many obstacles, even BASIC HUMAN RIGHT'S is a GLOBAL ISSUE. Jon is one of the few people, who remain passionately motivated for the good of the 'human condition' . He is inspiring, intelligent and has given so much of himself already to those who don't know any 'home'. His voice and message RESONATED quite clearly...(all the way to the on side of the world). You did a brilliant thing streetseen, and we're cheerin' for you Down Under!

by Michael R. Fri Dec 02, 2005 14:07

And of course the picture from the front page of yesterdays Irish Times for those who have not seen.

They die on the street but are ushered away from the Politicians

by Jon Glackin Fri Dec 02, 2005 15:44

Long sleeveTshirts are now available in Red Ink, Temple Bar@ e15
Hoodies@ e30

or from street seen activists...