Tynan condemns graffiti attack on Republican Plot

Cork's Republican Plot

Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan has condemned as “disgusting” a wholesale graffiti attack on headstones and other monuments at the Republican Plot at Cork's St. Finbarr’s Cemetery over the past few days.

Cllr. Tynan said that the attack was sickening, particularly coming just 48 hours or so before commemorations there of the Easter 1916 Rising. A large number of graves in the plot and a number of headstones of republicans outside the plot were found to be covered in graffiti including swastikas.

“This weekend, the 97th anniversary of the 1916 Rising will be remembered with pride and respect. To think that the men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country could be treated with such utter contempt is disgusting. The fact that only the graves in the Republican plot and of prominent republicans buried nearby have been covered with graffiti suggest that they were deliberately targeted”, said Cllr. Tynan.

He said that it was hoped the graffiti could be removed before Sunday’s Easter events which include the Workers’ Party commemoration at the Republican Plot which takes place at 12 noon.

When the people are ignored, they are right to protest

Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan has said that last night’s (Jan 28th) protest by anti-household charge and property tax protesters was completely justified because councillors from the major parties have consistently supported austerity and the imposition of unfair charges on working people and their families.

Cllr. Tynan, who called for a referendum on the banking bailout,  said that those councillors who had been most outspoken in condemning last night’s protest were bandying about words such as democracy and mandates when in fact they were supporting policies which were totally anti-democratic.

 

“It is grossly hypocritical for councillors from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party to lecture others about democracy when they have collectively imposed and maintained the strictures of the Troika in order to bail out insolvent banks and prop up the EU and the Euro project”, he said.

Cllr. Tynan has said that he intends to put the commitment of establishment councillors to the test by putting down a motion to the council demanding a referendum, even at this late stage on the banking bailout which had never been put to the people.

“The ordinary people of this country have been too quiet.   Councillors and others are getting all hot and bothered because people are standing up for once and making their voices heard.   They expect people to sit like spectators at a tennis match as councillors vote for more cuts in services, rent increases and make decisions which impact on people’s lives.  Democracy is not just a word, it means ‘rule of the people’ and if the people are consistently ignored then they must reassert that democracy”, said Cllr. Tynan

Workers' Party (Cork) Christmas Draw 2012

Winners in Workers' Party, Cork Region, Christmas Draw 2012.


Prize                         Ticket No.                                         Winner

1st	1006	Anne Hales, Bandon
2nd	0954	Len McCarthy, Ballinspittle
3rd	1690	Roy Keating, Ballyphehane
4th	1500	Josephine Power, Mayfield
5th	0082	Sean Crowley, c/o Three Horseshoes Bar
6th	0676	Owen O'Sullivan, Ballinure
7th	0927	Eileen McCarthy, Ballyphehane
8th	1448	Aaron Sherin, Mayfield
9th	0166	Pat Manning, c/o, Sean Crowley
10th	2081	W. Murphy, c/o, Mick Crowley
11th	1175	Nina Ahern, Clonakilty
12th	2067	Pete, c/o, Mick Crowley
13th	1691	Maura Keating, Ballyphehane
14th	0268	Sean Tynan, c/o, Ted Tyan
15th	2209	Frances O'Neill, Knocknaheeny
16th	2212	M. O'Neill, Knocknaheeny
17th	1682	Eryn Keating, c/o, Roy Keating
18th	1900	Josh Murphy, c/o, Mick Crowley
19th	1003	Mary Hales, Bandon
20th	0440	Billy Kiely, c/o, Ted Tynan

All winners will be notified. The Cork Regional Council of the Workers' Party would like to thank all our ticket sellers, buyers and prize donors. Seasons greetings and many thanks.

James Connolly Rolling in His Grave

I was stunned by Labour Party Minister Sean Sherlock's response on the front page of the Echo (Dec 14th) to comments that James Connolly would be rolling in his grave over the policies of the current government. Minister Sherlock was quoted as saying that 'I sometimes think those invoking James Connolly have not read his works. James Connolly was first and foremost a patriot'. As a reader of Connolly myself, I wonder which works in particular Minister Sherlock could be referring to. It certainly could not be the article published in Workers' Republic in 1900 which states clearly Connolly's position on so-called patriotism. Let me refresh the Minister's memory: 

'Ireland without her people is nothing to me, and the man who is bubbling over with love and enthusiasm for "Ireland", and can yet pass unmoved through our streets and witness all the wrong and the suffering, the shame and the degradation wrought upon the people of Ireland, aye, wrought by Irishmen upon Irishmen and women, without burning to end it, is, in my opinion, a fraud and a liar'.

The government of which Minister Sherlock is a part has certainly wrought its fair share of suffering, shame and degradation on the people of this country with its recent budget, which has featured cuts to Child Benefit and the Respite Care Grant and a host of other regressive policies. The most vulnerable in our society are bearing the brunt of an economic program of austerity that has been designed and imposed by those who are safely protected by large salaries and positions of power and influence. The idea that this situation could be justified through an appeal to doing our patriotic duty, as Minister Sherlock suggests, is the very kind of fraudulent rhetoric Connolly was denouncing 112 years ago, and he would most surely be denouncing it if he were around today.  

Tynan calls for a new deal for Mayfield

Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan has called for a new deal for Mayfield which would develop the positive aspects of the Northside suburb, comprehensively deal with neglect and dereliction and put the creation of jobs and building of community on top of the agenda.

Cllr. Tynan said that Mayfield had the potential to become a model community if it had the same opportunities as other areas of the city.  Too often dereliction and anti-social activity were blamed on the local community where the real cause of these ills was official neglect, bad planning and short-sightedness on the part of the state.

Soon to be vacated AIB Bank on Old Youghal Road

Cllr. Tynan cited the forthcoming closure of the AIB and Permanent TSB banks in Mayfield as symptomatic of an attitude that the area was less important than others. The same was true of the level of dereliction, broken or overgrown footpaths and job creation.

The Workers’ Party councillor has put forward a number of motions to Cork City Council calling for action to be taken on derelict premises and calling for a proactive approach towards the impending closure of the two local bank branches.

Permanent TSB, Mayfield - Ideal for community use

Derelict private house - action from council required

“Now is the time to act on these two buildings, not in five years time when they are burnt out, vandalised or taken over by anti-social elements.  The two banks in question owe it to the local community to ensure that this doesn’t happen and I am proposing that the City Council make a direct approach to the AIB and Permanent TSB with a view to securing these premises for use by community and voluntary organisations in the area. I am also calling on the Council to take urgent steps to deal derelict properties whether publicly or privately owned.   If this kind of neglect is not acceptable in other suburbs then it’s not good enough for Mayfield either”, said Cllr. Tynan.

Cllr. Tynan also called a job creation programme for the Mayfield area, based on eco-friendly development of local amenities, rejuvenation of empty council housing and environmental improvements in the area, particularly related to protecting the Glen River Valley and improving leisure amenities there.

Ministerial pensions should spark outrage

Press Release on Ministerial Pensions

Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan said that the revelation that former government ministers had received over €4 million in pensions last year while some of them continue to receive other payments from the state should spark public outrage, especially from those who are suffering the brunt of cutbacks.

Cllr. Tynan said that despite holding a referendum on judges pay last year the state was continuing to pay enormous sums of money to former ministers and other office holders, many of whom are already incredibly wealthy. 

“On a daily basis”, said Cllr Tynan,  “I am contacted by citizens who are suffering real hardship and misery as a result of cutbacks.  One of the most glaring examples is the recent cut in the hours of Home Helps.  This is a heartless decision which seriously erodes the quality of life of those dependent on the Home Help service. News of these ministerial pensions can only add insult to their injury”.

Cllr. Tynan said that with a further €1 billion to be paid out to AIB bondholders next Monday it was an utter affront to the Irish people that many of those who presided over the collapse of the economy and the banking bailout are still receiving golden handshakes and bloated pensions. 

“In addition to the obscene payments to the likes of Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney we also have huge sums of money being paid out to a number of extremely wealthy former ministers such as Michael McDowell and John Bruton.  Worst of all we have a convicted tax evader Ray Burke receiving a ministerial pension of over €1,000 a week.   It is time to call a halt to this squalid circus.”, said Cllr. Tynan.

Hogan cravenly distances himself from actions of councils

Phil Hogan says that he did not ask local authorities to withhold student grant applications. The Minister, even though he supports the withholding of grants, is now cravenly trying to distance himself from this debacle because he knows it's a public relations nightmare. I am reminded of our campaign against services charges (double taxation) back in the 90s, when the government of the time tried to implement the same policy of blackmail against the sons and daughters of families applying for student grants. Padraig Flynn was the Minister for Environment and Local Government. Under the leadership of the late Paddy Mulcahy, a school teacher, we resisted their campaign of terror waged against families. Are they going back down the road jailing people I wonder?