Shell's illegal Glengad compound was dismantled last night and Goldman winner, Willie Corduff was assaulted by masked Shell security during truck protest.
Yesterday Shell’s attempts to restart their works on the Corrib Gas project were ground to a halt after only eight hours. At 6-30 a workforce of about 20, backed up by around 50 private security guards erected fences to re-establish a compound. This compound is the would-be on-shore pipe installation base. Works were seriously hampered when local people and solidarity camp activists occupied machinery.

By 4 o clock Rossport Five member Willie Corduff was still refusing to leave the from under the truck, which he had occupied in the compound and all work had ground to a halt. Shell were unable to continue as Willie was preventing necessary equipment being used.
As the evening drew to a close Willie was resolute that he would stay and the community rallied around in support. Throughout the evening supporters gathered at the compound to show support for the campaign and Willie Corduff’s stand bringing blankets and hot water bottles.

Related Links:
Shell to Sea website l Shell return to Glengad in force

Today (Thursday) there is a vote of students in UL on fees. It arose from a proposal by the chairperson of UL Fianna Fail to make students vote on what kind of fees we want – which would have assisted the Student's Union to 'lobby' for that specific type of fees, instead of fighting to defeat all forms of fees. Student opposition, including from the UL branch of F.E.E. succeeded in getting a ‘no fees’ option 4 included, which reads: “I am opposed to alternatives to exchequer-funded third level tuition fees”,

UL F.E.E. have been the only ones campaigning on the vote, with everyone else focused on the SU officers elections. F.E.E. has been calling for a clear, "No to fees" vote - putting No Fees as your 'number 1' vote and not giving any vote, even a second preference, to the other pro-fees options.

Related Links:
Support the International Global Week of Action Against Fees
Recent Indymedia.ie feature Schools Out! Stop the Commercialisation of Education by Mark Conroy
Conor Murphy of SEED on why Third level fees should be re-introduced
FEE's Website - Free-Education.info

Don't Just Sit There
Contact EVERY TD, Senator, and MEP about this - Contact.ie

An anarchist response to the attack on the British Army Barracks in Antrim

The armed and indiscriminate attack on the Massereene British Army barracks in Antrim on Saturday night is futile and counter-productive which only serves to strengthen the status-quo.

The attack has left two off duty soldiers dead, Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21 as well as four others injured including two pizza delivery workers.

Related Links:
Trade Unions organise Silent Protest
Original publication from Oz entitled You can't blow up a social relationship
A few thoughts on these events in the North from the Cedar Lounge
Someone from Ogra argues that A corner has been turned...

Address by An Taoiseach and Uachtarán Fianna Fáil to the 72nd Ard-Fheis: Part 1

This is a transcript of Brian Cowen's original speech to the Ard Fheis. It is not the speech that was delivered, as greater men than Cowen thought honesty was not in their interests.

Nothing changes!

Related Links:
The text of the speech that was actually delivered by Mr Cowen.
Fianna Fail Ard Fheis coverage on IrishElection.com.
"This is not Normal" article from Cedar Lounge Revolution.

"Good evening delegates, and to all of you watching and listening at home.

I realise tonight as I talk to you that many of you here in this hall and around the country have worries for yourselves, your families and your future. I have no such worries because I am one of the highest paid politicians in the world in spite of the fact that I am head of a very small country with a comparatively small GDP.

A new report based on 2 and a half years of academic study has found that Ireland suffers high levels of “legal corruption”. The Transparency International (TI) report found that: “While no laws may be broken, personal relationships, patronage and political donations are believed to influence political decisions and policy to a considerable degree in Ireland.”

Related Links:
The website of Transparency International (Ireland)
The Global Website of Transparency International

Indymedia Reporters Group:
Mick Burke and the Indymedia Collective are trying to set up a dedicated reporters group to report on the (potential) strike on March 30th. Read about it here.

Don't just sit there, contact someone:
If you feel strongly about this, why not contact some/all politicians - Contact.ie

Although the report is light on banking, it does shed some light on the Galway Races Tent culture when it states that “Business is seen as particularly close to political life in Ireland.” The Galway Races is an annual horse racing social gathering at which the leading political party Fianna Fail had a notorious fundraising tent up until last year. TI do draw attention to the ease at which political donations can be secured. There is no requirement to declare donations under €5,078.98 to a party or under €635 to an individual.