DCC Pulls Poster Ban - For Now...

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday December 05, 2006 00:01

by Seán Ryan and Elaine

A Protest first and then we adjourn into the inner sanctum of City Hall for the meeting itself.

Joan Collins and assorted trouble makers

There was a small demo tonight outside City Hall. Seven of us gathered in the rain to greet elected officials, as they entered City Hall to vote on re-installing the ban on the posting of public notices, amongst other things.

Flyers were handed out, as activists informed passers-by about Dublin City Council’s plans to ban free speech and the freedom of association.

Elected officials for the most part snuck into, or rather, attempted to sneak into the building, without being confronted by angry activists. Some Councillors however, were in favour of retaining the rights bestowed by the Constitution and stopped for a chat and photos.

Us two reporters/activists managed to attend the meeting itself.

When the issue of the poster ban arose, Pascal Mooney, who chaired the committee that brought this diabolical motion to the table, was allowed to speak first. It seems that this motion was not too well received (poor Pascal). Pascal told all those assembled that the Protocol was back on the Drawing table and would be re-visited next February. The Motion to vote on re-instituting the Poster Ban itself was withdrawn.

Dermot Lacey calling a point of order, asked that all Councillors be mailed as to when the next meeting to do with this issue would be held. He said that lots of Councillors were unaware of when these meetings were taking place and put it down to Councillors not being mailed.

We know – because we asked – that lots of Councillors wanted to speak on this issue and that they were going to tear it to shreads and were going to tear seven kinds of shite out of those who wished to implement it. Dermot Lacey was one of them.

Many thanks to Joan Collins, the independent Councillor, who has taken a very firm stance on this issue from the start, despite some of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune tossed at her by, tossers of such things.

Regards also to the other activists who turned up – we had a ball – and the enemy scurried back to that dark place, to lick its wounds.

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Comments (4 of 4)

Activists .....where?

by number 6 - legalise freedom campaign

Tue Dec 05, 2006 19:52

The D.C.C. mob and their friends plan to silence the People of this City by banning them from erecting Public notices which inform the People of organised corruption in the Gardai , planning , courts , government , murder , missing Persons and whatever else.

After the D.C.C. / Concillors Meeting on Monday night at City Hall , it was decided to pull the controversial topic from the order of business.

This propsed Poster ban has been put on hold ....AGAIN.

If the Armchair Activists don't get up off their arse and fight for their rights , they may not be around for too long.

Remember the saying , 'ignore your Health and it will go away'.

Mind Forged Manacles

by John Kelly - CFSD

Tue Dec 05, 2006 19:02

You are right "on the money" Starstruck and unmanagable, this issue is a crucial key, the right to communicate. Apart from being a basic natural and constitutional right it is now again under threat from unelected people at DCC. What I am amazed at is the inertia of "activists" on this issue, the establishment carefully controls the supply of political information, (witness StoS) and the use of Posters/Notices of public events is a very potent tool in communicating to as broad a mass of people as possible, alternative views and accurate information.

Alas not too many on the self proclaimed "left" have been very focussed on this issue and these very same groups are the ones who ask people to join them to fight for "rights" which we do not currently have, yet rights which are protected, ie basic civil liberties in the Constitution (and in this case are under threat again) well there is not much rumpus about these. I am of the view if you do not fight to defend what you already have, all the preaching about about the "Socialst Republic" or whatever, will make little impact and such rhetoric sounds to me quite hollow, if a right like this is at the same time left to wither on the vine.

Nice work people!

by Starstruck

Tue Dec 05, 2006 13:03

Sorry I didnt make it along..good report,very literary!
Good work by all involved,this right is one key to all progressive activitiesattempting to bring about any form of social change.
We cannot survive without the right to communicate our ideas--
Onwards!

That makes it more interesting?

by unManageable

Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:54

'Re-visiting' the issue in the run-up to the election when those who are thinking of the Dail or party
policy will be watching the printing presses and the vote quota-

Maybe CFSD should request a meeting to explain to the councillors the issue of freedom
of speech in our small capital- given the cross pollinations and friendships between all
the dissenting groups. Be they interested in Poverty/Land/rights or education.

ie- the real 'opposition'.

Sorry I missed the protest.

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DCC Pulls Poster Ban - For Now...

Comments (4 of 4)