'NO' to Lisbon urged by aviation millionaire

Aviation multi-millionaire, and FINE GAEL friend, ULICK McEVADDY (remember the MARY HARNEY holiday in FRANCE controversy?) has spoken of his "Very difficult" decision to call for a "No" vote in the LISBON TREATY REFERENDUM at a Press Conference in DUBLIN's MERRION HOTEL on SUN 20th APRIL.

He said: "...having read this [Lisbon] Treaty four times ..I am certainly unable to say that it is going to be in any way beneficial to the interests of the Irish people, or the Irish business community.

I have a deep and abiding appreciation of what membership of the EUROPEAN UNION has done for this country ..I understand the desire of many people to "repay" Europe for that support by supporting this latest offering at the ballot box.

On the other hand, I believe that affection and respect for Europe must be repaid with due diligence and thoughtful consideration of what is in Europe's best interests. This document is set to determine the future of Europe for the next 1,000 years. Reading it, I come to the conclusion that it is unwieldy, unclear, incredibly poorly drafted, and will require years of interpretation by lawyers and the EUROPEAN COURTS.

Further, I am troubled by the lack of any meaningful attempt to make Europe more democratic.

These troubles are not assuaged by the fact that across Europe, in many cases in direct contravention of promises by Government, the people of Europe are being denied the chance to voice their opinions on this generation-defining document at the ballot box.

In the case of IRELAND, I am troubled by the very clear risk to our ability to determine our own taxation levels. The risk, identified by LIBERTAS and DECLAN GANLEY, and then confirmed by JOSE BAROSSO this morning, of destination taxes being imposed on Irish business is not one that I think we should take, in the national interest.

There is only one thing clear about this treaty, and that is that it is completely unclear.

Europe needs a constitution and a rulebook that is clear, and gives the people as much input as possible. Ireland and the UNITED STATES both have documents of this nature.

When the leaders of Europe draft something that the ordinary person can understand, and that will not need decades of legal wrangling to determine its effect, I will gladly support it.

On this occasion, however, I am giving my support to Libertas' call for a rejection of this treaty on JUNE 12th".

false property-sales figures from agents

The IRISH TIMES property editor has written to Irish Estate Agents warning them to cease providing false figures for property sales. The Irish Times publishes sales results in it's weekly property supplement every Thursday.

ORNA MULCAHY, Property Editor says that in many cases sales figures have been inflated by as much as 20% to hide the fact that values have dropped much more than the public actually realise.

It is clearly in the interest of estate agents to hype-up values in an attempt to re-ignite sales in a stagnant market.

Property has slowed to a stand-still over the last year and anecdotal evidence tells us that those selling are often knocked-down by as much as 20% below advertised guide prices - bringing values closer to the 30% figure which experts believe is the amount of over-valuation.

I personally know of two very similar properties in a sought-after city centre location. The vendor of one had hoped to achieve around EU1.4 million for her property ..an over-eager neighbour pushed that to EU1.75 million which was clearly over-valued even as the boom reached it's peak in Feb 2007.

An identical, if not more attractive, property 4 doors away came to the market around Feb - 12 months later - and didn't sell at EU1.3 million so was reduced further to EU1 million. I wouldn't want to be that lady who has seen the value of her property drop 40% (EU750,000) in 12 months!

RTE commented that Estate Agents are known for their 'hyperbole' and we shouldn't be surprised they are hiding the truth. Remember that the next time you hear the property market is recovering slowly.

Law gives access to Gardai of your internet usage

THE RANGE of criminal investigations for which the Garda will be able to request e-mail and internet data retained by internet service providers has been broadened by the Government.

In the latest draft implementing European directives on data retention "serious offences" would be defined as "any offence for which a person . . . could receive a maximum custodial sentence of six months".

This is a broader definition than that in Section 1 of the Bail Act 1997, which defines a "serious offence" as an arrestable offence with a minimum prison sentence of five years.

Offences that could now be deemed "serious" under the statutory instrument would include public order offences, such as refusing to move on when asked to do so by a garda, or minor assault.

The former minister for justice Michael McDowell had vowed that retained data would only be used in the prosecution of serious criminal and terrorism cases.

The draft statutory instrument would also apply the proposed new definition of serious offences to the current data retention regime on call data introduced in the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005.

In an apparent attempt to seek a compromise on retention more acceptable to the internet service providers - who would carry the cost of implementing it - the proposed legislation now seeks a 12-month retention period rather than the two years allowable under the EU directive.

Under the draft statutory instrument, retained data would include names of those who sent and received e-mails, computer addresses, the location of computer users, the times a user logged on and off a computer, and the size of files and e-mails sent and received, but not the content of e-mails.

Currently, the Garda can obtain telephone and mobile call data with no restrictions at all, a situation that has been repeatedly criticised by Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes and national and international privacy advocacy groups.

"This SI is clearly undermining all the normal legal understanding of what constitutes a serious offence," said Ivana Bacik, senator and Reid professor of criminal law at Trinity College Dublin.

"If they are making a change like that, it should be brought in through primary legislation," the Independent senator said.

Irish Citizens alone will determine fate of all Europeans ?

It is not widely known that Irish Citizens alone will determine the fate of all Europeans when we take to the ballot box on the LISBON TREATY.

We are the only country forced to hold a referendum on the new Constitution. This isn't a responsibility to be taken lightly ..no one should vote to enactment laws they do not understand.

We should also bare in mind that this re-written Constitution - in it's previous guises - was rejected previously by the people of Europe. How can you morally justify a vote that would reverse their decision unless you understand the proposed-treaty word-for-word.

If you fully understand the consequences of voting Yes, and agree with the changes, then so-be-it vote yes, but it is irresponsible and fool-hardy to approve laws that you do not fully understand purely on the basis of major political party opinion - they don't even understand it.

Voting NO does not reject Europe, it merely forces the EU to re-write their proposed changes in a language that is not designed to confuse.

The ‘father’ of the constitution, GISCARD D'ESTAING said: "Public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly... All the earlier proposals will be in a new text, but will be hidden and disguised in some way...What was [already] difficult to understand will become utterly incomprehensible, but the substance has been retained."

Political leaders also admit that they will not allow their people a vote on the Lisbon Treaty because they know it will be rejected. French president NICOLAS SARKOZY says: "France was just ahead of all the other countries in voting No. "It would happen in all member states if they have a referendum. There is a cleavage between people and governments...A referendum now would bring Europe into danger. There will be no treaty if we had a referendum in France, which would again be followed by a referendum in the UK." So basically what we have is fundamental change without the consent of the citizens.

If the GREENs were not in a coalition government they would be calling for a NO VOTE - sadly that leaves only SINN FEIN calling for a no, tainting the against lobby as radicals. However Green MEP PATRICIA McKENNA spoke about it clearly here.

No more excuses - sort out the Health Service NOW!

Without medical insurance you could die on the street in America. In Ireland (at least for the moment) you'll make it as far as a chair in the Emergency Department (..but don't visit the toilet or you forfeit even that).

You're benefiting from an economic boom the foundations of which were laid by those same people dying on hospital trolleys today - and, just like the rest of us, when they were young, fit and healthy they never thought for a moment they'd find themselves in that desperate position.

I'm writing this because it's time you did something to afford them the dignity they (and in future someone in your own family) deserve. This Saturday (29 March) at 15.00 is your opportunity to show politicians that the Irish public have had enough smoke-and-mirrors.

If you're lacking inspiration watch SICKO on dvd before Saturday. The documentary looks at an American health system which has been allowed run-down to the extent that those citizens [who can afford the annual premiums] are driven to private medical cover for fear of not being treated. Hardly a coincidence since the medical insurance industry fiercely lobbies Governments to have (their) acts written into law.

If you're selfishly thinking 'I've got medical insurance' you'd do well to wake up to the story of husband and wife (once financially independent WITH medical insurance) who lost everything including their home when insurance failed to cover all the bills.

The scandal is that these companies employ teams of investigators to fine-comb your original application intent on establishing you had a pre-disposition all those years - their goal is to avoid successful claims which they term 'profit losses'. The documentary hears evidence from ex-Chief Medical Officers admitting they were paid huge bonuses to reach pre-determined 'rejected-claims' targets (rejections which baffle their doctor who recommended a particular treatment).

So how is this relevant to Ireland? Welcome to your future! This government clearly has no interest in a system that works - the ratio of hospital beds per capital has dropped from just over 5/1000 to 3.1/1000 now! I'd argue that the quality of our health service is intentionally being allowed run-down - it's a win-win for both Government and the medical insurance industry - society looses faith in the public system and flocks to private insurance.

Our Government is clearly reaching for the American model (remember all the talk at the last election about private hospitals?) instead of looking to Canada, the UK, France where society (both strong and weak) is supported by an efficient, subsidised, or socialised medical service.

Why? Well conveniently enough our government benefits directly. VHI HEALTHCARE is the profit-making state-operated insurance company and the government has written the so-called 'equalisation' rule into law, simply put this gives the company an unfair advantage making it next to impossible for competition to survive longer than a few years - remember British health insurance giant BUPA.

It's no secret VHI Healthcare has been flirting with the American health insurance giants for some time: and you don't need to stretch too far to imagine the sales-pitch '..the health system lays in tatters, this has pushed droves of citizens to private insurance, we control the company that insures them, 'equalisation' guarantees only VHI can run the distances, we've sewn it all up so your only realistic route into the Irish market-place is a take-over of our company ..we've put together a neat package with a big surge in policy holders, you can only do business with us'. [Has anyone explored the relationship between the deterioration in our health service and a big jump in VHI's membership?]

..and if you're thinking this government would never screw its own citizens remember the privatisation of EIRCOM!

How can Cuba provide a world-class health service despite having suffered under embargoes from both the US and EU while we have experienced an unprecedented boom and our health system lays in tatters.

There is simply no will - in fact the opposite is the case.

Trade unions and medical organisations are crying out for your support this weekend. Have a look at medmedia.com or here ..and take an hour of your day to join the public demonstration:

Sat 29 March
15.00
Garden of Remembrance
Parnell Square
Dublin 01

Pearl at Dublin Docklands

Went to see PEARL around the IFSC in DUBLIN DOCKLANDS last night, it's part of the St. Patrick's Festival weekend celebrations.

So many great street theatre groups arrive in Dublin and are then forced to restrict their show because of a bunch of bureaucrats who lack creativite vision or an understanding that while the Irish like to have the craic, we don't need to be caged in for 'our own safety'. (There is definitely a much more relaxed and involved audience at similar events in latin countries - can you ever imagine Ireland agreeing to a bull-run or city-wide tomato fight?)

So when we went along to the show last night we were in two minds. French street theatre company PLASTICIENS VOLANTS are certainly capable of putting on one amazing show, but would it retain it's sense of fluidity that is a hallmark?

Well what a show - giant helium inflated 'puppets' controlled by their 'handlers' with guide ropes - then smaller 3 meter sea-horse, crabs, shrimp, shellfish running through the crowds glowing colourfully in the dark. Rather than being focussed on a single stage area the action weaved over 60 or 80 metres, all around the Dock so that, no matter where you were standing, you'd find yourself caught-up in the 'underwater' battle at some stage, no where was safe.

We floated around the space, above us massive fishes and lobster protecting their giant pearl. Then out of no-where, somewhere behind us maybe, a giant sea snake is skimming over our heads (he must have been 20 or 30 metres long with a 4 metre girth).

He part-flew, part-bounced above us then dived head-first into the crowd about 5 feet from where we were standing. The music was thundering around the space almost drowning out the screams (we later heard he took-out an adult and a few kids).

A shrimp and a few crabs ran up to us as the snake slithered in chasing them in our direction. They trembled with fear, holding onto my jacket and clearly seeking help in some weird language. Somehow we got the message across that they should swim out of there fast and they fled (ok we were being selfish but they glowed like hell and were only drawing the snake's attention to where we were hiding).

What a show, it's repeated tonight again and, although it's listed as a ticketed free event if you don't have one go along anyway. There was no one asking for tickets last night.

19.30
Georges Dock / IFSC (International Financial Services Centre)
Dublin Docklands,
D.01
(take public transport, little parking around there)

don't forget Mothers' Day

In the US it's the second Sunday in May (this year it's 11th May).
In the UK and Ireland Mothers' Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent:
2nd March 2008

In these parts the tradition goes back to 'Mothering Sunday' when Catholics were supposed to travel to Mass in their "Mother Church" (or regional cathedral) rather than their local parish. With the Reformation, it had become an occasion for children to visit parents.

In the US the first known observance of Mother's Day occurred in Albion, Michigan, on May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of the month. Legend claims local pioneer, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, called on other mothers to join her when she stepped up to complete the sermon of the Rev. Myron Daughterty, who was distraught. Apparently an anti-temperance group had forced his son and two other temperance advocates to spend the night in a saloon and become publicly drunk!

Blakeley's two sons, both travelling salesmen, vowed to return each year to pay tribute to her. At their urging, in the early 1880s, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

HANSARD & IRGLOVA to perform at the OSCARS

GLEN HANSARD and MARKETA IRGLOVA will perform their due FALLING SLOWLY at this year's OSCARS ceremony.  The track from the feature ONCE is nominated in the Best Original Song category.  The ACADEMY questioned it's validity to remain in competition since nominated songs must consist 'of words and music, both original and written specifically for' a motion picture whereas the piece has already appeared on two albums.

The Academy allowed the track to remain in competition following reassurances from Hansard and Director JOHN CARNEY that composition of the song began during discussions way back in 2002 whereas the script and financing for the film took a number of years to come to fruition.  The Academy accepted that 'the song was played in some venues that were deemed inconsequential (no less!) enough not to deem it in-eligibile.'

Once was made on an incredibly low budget of less than €150,000 with 'a couple of handi-cams' and according to a mind-blown Hansard 'we thought it would help sell a few albums'.   It did more than that, it won an audience award at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL which made FOX SEARCHLIGHT buy the rights.  During its first few months at the American box office it grossed more than $7 million!  

In the film Hansard plays a Dublin busker, and Irglova (niece of director Carney) is a street-vendor.  There is a palpable screen energy between the two who have been dating since filming in January 2006 - they first met 6 years ago when Irglova was 13.  Hansard admits 'I'd been falling in love with her for a long time but I kept telling myself 'she's just a kid''.

ready to become a director?

We placed a recruitment advert in today's IRISH TIMES to find a new Director for BOARDMATCH IRELAND. The position became free when BRIAN SHEEHAN moved to GLEN where he's the new CEO. All the SEXTON+ gang wish Brian the best of luck, he has been an absolute pleasure to work with. MIRIAM ENRIGHT (Director of Marketing) has taken-over as acting-MD at Boardmatch.

Boardmatch provide a very worthwhile service that helps people in business polish their leadership skills by volunteering on the boards (usually) of notforprofit organisations.


Here's how the ad reads:
Boardmatch Ireland promotes stronger links between business and the nonprofit sector via voluntary leadership roles at board level. Business professionals volunteer their skills and experience to nonprofit organisations, enabling stronger governance practices and increasing effectiveness in nonprofits while gaining new leadership skills at Board level. Introductions between business professionals and nonprofits are facilitated, principally, via a free web-based service.

Director - BoardmatchIreland.ie Based Dublin + Travel
We wish to recruit a dynamic Director to build on the great progress to date. Reporting directly to our Board, the Director will lead the organisation successfully delivering the next phase of our ambitious strategic plan.

You can download a full job description from: www.boardmatchireland.ie

SALARY:
A competitive salary is on offer to attract the highest calibre candidate

APPLICATION:
Please send a detailed letter of application and CV to: chair@boardmatchireland.ie

CLOSING DATE:
Friday 7th March 2008

Fidel Castro retires = 19 Feb 2008

HAVANA - Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down on Tuesday 49 years after taking power in an armed revolution.

Castro, 81, who has not appeared in public since undergoing stomach surgery almost 19 months ago, said he would not seek a new term as president or leader of Cuba's armed forces when the National Assembly meets on Sunday.

His retirement raised expectations for change on the communist island, and calls by Castro's arch-enemy, the United States, for democracy, but Cuba experts said limited economic reforms were more likely than swift political transformation.

"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor in recent days of electing me a member of parliament ... I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept -- I repeat not aspire to or accept -- the positions of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief," Castro said in a statement published in the Communist Party's Granma newspaper.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who has tightened the decades-old economic embargo against Castro's government, said his retirement should begin a democratic transition.

Cuba's National Assembly is expected to nominate Castro's brother and designated successor Raul Castro as president. The 76-year-old defense minister has been running the country since emergency intestinal surgery forced his older brother to delegate power on July 31, 2006.

Raul Castro has promoted more open debate about the failings of Cuba's state-run economy, but he is unlikely to make bold political changes to the one-party state. Fidel Castro will remain influential as first secretary of the ruling Communist Party.