Minister for Justice condemns hate mail sent to members of the Muslim community

Credit WikiCommons

The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has condemned hate mail that has been sent to members of the Muslim community in Ireland.

An unsigned letter containing a photo of Micheal Collins was sent to a number of schools and mosques, threatening violent action if the proposed plan for a new Mosque in Dublin goes ahead. The letter contained threats such as ‘We will defend the faith by any means against the expansion of the Muslim faith’ and continued to threaten that they “will attack any Muslim man, women and child that enter any Mosque in Ireland”.

Mr. Shatter said in a statement that he condemns any “racism and religious bigotry in all their forms” and said he is “appalled by the nature of the communications”.

The letter and its violent intent have been condemned by the Irish Immigrant Council with a statement saying “A hate campaign against the Muslim community in Dublin must be fully investigated and those responsible prosecuted”.

Ahmed, who works at the Clonskeagh Mosque in Dublin, insisted that there is a good attitude towards Muslim people in Ireland saying that it is “generally peaceful”. He claimed that the violent letter instils “no fear at all” in Muslims in Ireland and that the act is an isolated incident that is not acceptable in a multicultural society.   He said: “We don’t care about the letter; the act is not acceptable but it will not shake our belief in God”.

There are currently over 65,000 Muslims living in Ireland, with over a third of those being born in the country.

Gavin Lacey

Great demand for Xbox One and PS4

Credit techradar.com

With Christmas around the corner there are two gaming consoles which have taken over the technological universe. There has been a great demand for Microsoft’s Xbox One since its release last Friday.

“The demand has been pretty high, it’s up until after Christmas the demand is” said one Gamestop employee, who was somewhat taken aback by the desire for the product. The employee stated “it was falling behind at first but now it’s after creeping back up. I think it’s because people can’t get the PS4 (Play Station 4), they decided to go to Xbox.”

In addition to this more than one million Xbox One games consoles were purchased in the first 24 hours of being on sale in the UK and 13 other countries.

While there has been a great deal of requests for the Xbox One it would appear that Sony’s Play Station 4, which will be released this Friday, will be even more popular again. “A higher demand, a way higher demand. We have a lot more pre orders on PS4’s” admitted Gamestop’s worker.

The popularity of the PS4 will also cause the business some issues. The Gamestop employee advised “Yeah it’s backlogged until after Christmas, I think you’re looking at the end of January at the earliest to get one now.”

The Xbox One is priced at €499.99 whilst the PS4 can be bought for €399.99.

John Lillis

New law in Egypt provides police with legal framework to use against protesters

Credit WikiCommons

 

Human rights groups in Egypt have expressed concern in light of a new protest law put in place on Sunday. The law gives security forces free reign to use unnecessary forces against demonstrators.

It also prohibits protests without prior police approval. Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi said the new law requires protesters to give notice rather than seek permission.

International concern is rising due to demonstration being presented as a “crime punishable by law” in a country that “has become a nation of protesters”, according to BBC correspondent, Orla Guerin, in Cairo.

Hassiba Hanj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa deputy director at Amnesty International said “It is a dangerous sign that the first piece of legislation regulating rights and freedoms passed since the ousting of Mohamed Morsi curtails freedom of assembly and treats peaceful protesters like criminals”.

“Not only does it allows the police to disperse peaceful demonstrations, but gives them the power to shoot protesters who pose no threat to the lives or safety of others” he added.

This has been viewed as a step backwards in improving Egypt’s human rights.  Amnesty International believe “Instead of investigating the large number of killings of protesters since the ‘January 25 Revolution’ and punishing those responsible, the current government seems to be rewarding security forces for their excesses and providing them with further legal means to trample on rights.”

The law was signed in light of more protests on Monday when security forces fired tear-gas to disperse university students who had defied a new law that restricts demonstrations, the state news agency reported.

Students of Al-Azhar University and Assiut University in Assiut province, south of Cairo, staged a protest, chanting against the army and police in defiance of the new law.

Criminalising protesters is not the progressive answer to Egypt’s on-going problems according to 19 Egyptian organisations.  In a joint statement, they said:  “The draft law seeks to criminalise all forms of peaceful assembly, including demonstrations and public meetings, and gives the state free hand to disperse peaceful gatherings by use of force”.

The consul in the Egyptian embassy in Dublin, Mr. Abdul Atif, said: “The new law, regulating the right to protests, aims to organise the process itself. Some people agree and some people don’t like the idea of regulating the rights of protesters. In general political powers in Egypt believe that there should be a free right for demonstrators to express political views on what is going on in Egypt. Clearly, some political powers have taken advantage of the freedom of demonstration and used arms and violence. The law is being put in place in a bid to guarantee no arms or violence”.

There are, however, concerns the law may be misused. “The unfair protest law will be broken,” Ahmed Mahler told Reuters, whose April 6 movement helped lead the uprising against autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Lilah Gafaar 

OPINION – Success of the climate summit in Warsaw – conclusions after COP19

Credit bbc.co.uk

Here are four reasons why the UN organised 19^th Conference of the Parties (COP19) should be remembered as extraordinarily successful despite strained emotions, problems and controversies.

1.       Hosts’ success despite ecologic NGOs anti-Polish actions

Despite several initial difficulties, Poland managed to perform its role as the host of COP19 well. The main concern was the real possibility of hostile actions by ecology-oriented Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), aiming to boycott Poland’s position as host due to its opposition to decarbonisation policies and 90% of its economy being based on coal. Some NGOs came to Warsaw with the aim of confronting and discrediting the host of the summit, regardless of the power and virtue of their arguments. They appeared to forget that harassment and humiliation is not a path to progress. While calling Poland ‘Coaland’ and its government ‘Coalish’ might have brought attention to their position, in reality they only strengthened the Polish position as a strong and reliable government able to act diplomatically and be decisive even in such unfavourable conditions.

2.       Industry get involved

It may be hard to believe, but this summit was the first in the history of COP conferences when industrial lobbies took an active part on an equal footing to other organisations. Until now all the political decisions on CO2 reduction quotas were made without any consultation with industry representatives.

3.       Resolution – all for one, one for all  

One of the aims of the Polish presidency was to encourage all of the member states to participate in the future agreement, so the Paris resolution would have a worldwide and legally binding character. This was a turning point in international eco politics, as it created a real opportunity to make developing countries take an active part in counteracting climate change.

4.       The €25million budget was not wasted

The estimated cost of organizing COP19 was €25million. That is, indeed, a lot, but looking at the ultimate result of the conference, it is undeniable that the budget was well spent. Apart from the obvious economic benefits, the summit has shown that Poland is not only capable of hosting one of the most important international political events, but can also do so with considerable success.

Katarzyna Sowa

No snow on Christmas Day

Credit irishtimes.ie

Notorious weather forecaster Ken Ring, who successfully predicted the July heat wave back in January and our extreme winter of 2010, expects snow in December but Ireland will miss out on a white Christmas. The New Zealander uses the moon, sun and tidal activity to make his forecasts.

Talking to the Irish Examiner, Ring says “Some southern areas may get isolated heavier falls but these are not expected to be widespread. There will be a sudden downward plunge into sub-zeros in the last few days of November. The first serious cold spell is in the last few days of November with the possibility of widespread snow on or near the last day”.

“There may be chances of snow in the last days of the year and the first few days of January, in the third week of February and in the first week of March” he said.

The weather expert is not expecting the arctic conditions of 2010 to return.

A Dublin City Council spokesperson, along with the Stephen Smith from NRA (National Road Authority), confirmed that they have increased their stock pile of salt since the severe winter of 2010. Their current stock pile is 2200 tonnes, with a reserve of 2000 tonnes. From October until March the Dublin City Council monitors road conditions and responds once temperatures reach below 1 degree Celsius. They cover approx. 300 km of Dublin city roads concentrating predominantly on key roads, bus routes and emergency routes, but housing estates are not included. Once in operation, 80-100 tonnes of salt could be used on a severe night.

Last week, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., and Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D. launched the Government’s ‘Be Winter Ready’ 2013-2014 Information Campaign at the National Emergency Coordination Centre in Dublin. Advice from Government departments, the Gardaí, the HSE, local authorities and transport providers will now be available on the website www.winterready.ie.

The campaign intends to provide practical advice on how best to prepare for the coming winter. It aims to ensure the public are aware of where advice and help can be found if needed and to reassure the public that arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there will be a coordinated response to severe weather events.

The weather, as un-predictable as it is to most of us, remains unthreatening. Most of us can rest assured if Ring’s predictions are true, along with the comprehensive preparations in place at the NRA and Dublin City Council, a severe winter doesn’t pose a threat.

Lilah Gaafar

League tables show further evidence of elitism in education

Credit castleknockcollege.ie

Students from fee-paying schools are still dominating the highest point courses in universities, according to the Irish Times school league tables published today.

Despite data which says that non fee-paying schools accounted for three quarters of the top 100 secondary schools in the 2013 league tables, it is private school students who snap up the most sought after courses.

The league tables also show a major advantage to the affluent south Dublin area, with 25 schools there sending at least 94 per cent of their students to college. The list shows that 17 schools in the top 100 are located in south Dublin – 14 of them fee-paying – while north Dublin boasts only two, Castleknock College and Ard Scoil Rís.

Mary Maguire, deputy principal of Warrenmount National School, Dublin 8, which has 49 per cent foreign national attendance, expressed concern at the elitism within the Irish education system.

“Not many of our students’ families are in a financial position to send their children to fee-paying schools, and even at such a young age they definitely face a disadvantage being forced into state-run schools.”

The research also found that there was an overall increase in university attendance, with school leavers 14% more likely to go to University than the figures from the 2012 league tables.

However, a spokesperson for the Teacher’s Union of Ireland has called the league tables “an exercise in silliness”.

Hannah Popham

Cash-in-transit stolen in Finglas

Credit garda.ie

A man armed with a handgun yesterday held up the driver of a cash-in-transit van, escaping with a deposit box filled with cash.

The armed robbery – which occurred in Finglas yesterday afternoon at approximately 2.50pm – is one of many in Dublin recent months.

According to the Garda press office, a car used in the robbery was later found abandoned.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information to call Finglas Garda station on 01 666 7500.

Paul Doyle

Sligo confirm Flanagan as new manager

Credit rte.ie

The Sligo GAA board announced yesterday that Pat Flanagan had been appointed senior football manager for the coming season.  Flanagan carries a wealth of experience, having brought his previous inter-county Westmeath team from Division 3 to Division 1 of the National League. He also managed both Clara (Offaly) and Tyrellspass (Westmeath) to County triumphs.

Speaking to News Anois today, Sligo GAA boards PRO Maurice Sweeney said:

“I am delighted with the appointment. We have had our eye on Pat for a long time. He was our first choice and I am thrilled to have him appointed. He brings a massive amount of experience to the team and you only have to look at his previous success to see that.”

Flanagan has been employed for one year term which will be revised at the conclusion of the season. He will be meeting the players this week in addition to deciding on a back room team, which consists of a portion of the management of the Sligo under 21 side.

Darragh Collins

Irish Government experts travel to the Philippines

Credit goal.ie

Government experts will travel to the Philippines tomorrow to assess how Ireland can further assist the country as it recovers from the effects of Typhoon Haiyan.

The team will comprise of representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Defence Forces. They will travel to the Philippines on Wednesday where they will meet the Filipino Government, U.N agencies and NGO’s in Manila.

Eamon Gilmore said “Although the world’s cameras are moving on, millions of Filipino citizens remain homeless, their livelihoods destroyed and their families at risk. Ireland is committed to helping them rebuild their lives over the coming months… We have charged the team with assessing how Ireland can be most effective in responding to the longer-term needs of communities in the Philippines”.

On completion of the mission, the team will outline their recommendations of how Ireland can continue to support the Filipino people.

Ireland has already donated €2.6 million in funding to the relief effort with three airlifts of shelter, water, sanitation and other emergency services to the worth of €845,000 have also been offered.

Aer Lingus provided a flight that departed Dublin airport yesterday morning with over 40 tonnes of aid with help from the Irish agency GOAL.

Goal Irish chief executive Barry Andrews said “Once again, the people of Ireland have been extremely generous… I would like to sincerely thank everyone at Aer Lingus for arranging and putting on this flight, and for the cockpit, cabin crew and operations staff employees, who volunteered their free time”.

Typhoon Haiyan left almost 7000 people dead or missing when it ravaged through the Philippines in early November.

Gavin Lacey

Latvia still awaiting Irish aid

Credit WikiCommons

The Irish government has yet to officially offer any assistance to Latvia in relation to the shopping centre disaster last week in which 54 people perished.

Latvian president Andris Berzins described the tragedy as “mass murder” earlier this week, after the roof caved in on a shopping centre in the capital Riga last Thursday.

Foreign aid offers have come in across the continent from “Belgium, Israel, the Netherlands, Belarus, Sweden, Turkey, the U.K., and by an international institution – the Nordic Council of Ministers,” according to the Latvian embassy in Dublin.

The Latvian foreign minister believes that “although a decision on engaging a foreign expert lies within the competence of the prosecuting authority, a step like that could help raise public confidence and promote transparency in establishing truth about the tragedy.”

A book of condolence will be opened for signing again today at the embassy of the Republic of Latvia, 92 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 between 14:00-16:00.

Although Ireland are yet to provide aid to the Baltic state, the Irish Government has sent a team of experts to the Philippines to assess how we can assist there.

Simon Maguire