One can only look on in amazement as sections of the Irish Socialist movement self-destruct over its attitude to one individual, independent TD Mick Wallace. As with many other things, the appearance is not the reality. The frantic denunciation of Wallace, and the equally frantic adulation of him only a few months ago, represent very deep and systemic weaknesses that must be overcome if a working class resistance is to be built. read full story / add a comment

SYRIZA MP Yiannas Stathas speaks on:

Greece - Austerity and Resistance: Lessons for Ireland

8pm Friday 19th October, Wynn's Hotel, Abbey St, Dublin 1

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Friday October 5th marked the 35th anniversary of the murder of the great socialist republican leader, Séamus Costello. The Wicklow man was shot to death on Dublin’s North Strand by counter-revolutionary elements.

On Saturday October 6th a number of events were held in Dublin and Wicklow to remember Costello and pay tribute to his selfless sacrifice and service to Ireland and the working class.

At 11am up to 40 people gathered in Dublin’s north inner city at a new plaque erected in honour of Costello, near the spot where he was murdered on the North Strand Road. The plaque is one of a number recently erected by the Séamus Costello Memorial Committee. read full story / add a comment

The following article is a release from éirígí's Ballyfermot representative, Councillor Louise Minihan, in response to claims made by a number of Government TDs that those who took part in a ‘Hands Off Our Children’s Allowance’ protest in the area on the 5th October are not representative of the people of Ballyfermot.

In recent days a number of Dublin South Central TDs have claimed that anti-austerity protesters are not representative of the people of Ballyfermot.

These same TDs, Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne, and Eric Byrne and Michael Conaghan of Labour, claim to represent Ballyfermot, yet they have consistently voted against the interests of local residents by supporting ‘slash and burn’ cuts to our community. The three government TDs that represent Ballyfermot are strong supporters of:
- The bank guarantee scheme which has seen Fine Gael and Labour hand over billions of taxpayer’s money to pay for the greed of the private banks
- The austerity programme which has unleashed savage attacks on the people of Ballyfermot over the last number of years read full story / add a comment

Although a fun event, protesting against financial corruption and incompetence is deadly serious!
A lunch-time protest outside the Central Bank of Ireland on Dame Street, Dublin. Wed October 31st at 12 noon read full story / add a comment

Ireland and Libya: Two Sides of the Rentier State

Paper presented at the 2nd James Connolly Day School, 12th November, 2011, Connolly Books, Dublin.

Karl Marx first used the term “rentier state” to describe Britain as a state that lives off the rents on exported capital. Britain exported capital to its empire, and lived off the revenues or rents on this capital. Marx noted that the Working Class in England was very reluctant to seriously oppose the British state, as the rents on capital allowed the state to give the skilled Working Class just enough to make them feel they have something to lose if they rose up against the bourgeoisie. This could not have been the case, if the British state was dependent on revenues from domestic production only.

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has secured a fourth term in office after defeating Henrique Capriles. There was a turnout of 81% with Chavez securing 54.66% to Capriles' 44.73%..While this was comfortable victory margin it was down from the 27 point lead in 2006. Recognising this Chavez praised the opposition for recognising the election result, and said he was "stretching out my hands and heart on our behalf because we are brothers in Bolivar's homeland".

Chavez addressed his supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace and said: "Truthfully, this has been the perfect battle, a democratic battle. Venezuela will continue its march toward the democratic socialism of the 21st Century. I promise you I'll be a better president." read full story / add a comment

Day School to be held at the Offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, 33 Gardiner Place, Dublin 1, beginning at 12 noon, on Saturday October 20th, the day Al Gaddafi was martyred, and will include speakers from the Communist Party of the Irish Republic and from the Irish Republican Socialist Party. read full story / add a comment

That pat on the back to our "glorious leader Enda" in Time Magazine fails to come to terms BIG TIME with the reality on the ground here in Ireland. read full story / add a comment

Just a reminder that the monthly meeting of Galway City Council will be taking place this Monday the 8th of October at 4pm.
Join us at 3:30, Monday the 8th of October at City Hall and demand your right to local democracy.
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The choice facing our people is stark - emigrate, starve or resist. read full story / add a comment

Seamus Costello 35 th Anniversary Memorial Event.
The Seamus Costello Memorial Committee are holding the annual Seamus Costello commemorative evening, including a talk and an exhibition on Seamus's revolutionary life and much more, on Saturday October 6th 2012 at 7pm in Newtown Community hall in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow.
Wicklow’s native son Seamus Costello – a man of vision and drive was brutally murdered in Dublin on October 5 th 1977. read full story / add a comment

Issue 49 of Red Banner is out now, available for €2 / £1.50 from the address above or from bookshops read full story / add a comment

Page 2: Editorial: “Basic national loyalty and patriotism” and the US proxy war.
Page 4: Rank and file conference ConwayHall 11th August, By Laurence Humphries.
Page 4: London bus drivers Olympics’ bonus: Well done the drivers! - London GRL,On Diversions and ‘Total Victory’ By a London bus driver.
Page 6: Questions from the IRPSG read full story / add a comment

The Seamus Costello Memorial Committee will be holding the annual Seamus Costello commemorative evening, including a talk and an exhibition on Seamus's revolutionary life, on Saturday October 6th 2012 at 7pm in Newtown Community hall in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. read full story / add a comment

This press release appeared on the Socialist Party website on Sat 1st Sept 2012 On Friday 31 August Clare Daly TD handed in a letter of resignation to the Socialist Party. We feel obliged to give notice of this development and to offer some initial comments. The Socialist Party sincerely regrets that after many years in our ranks, Clare Daly TD has decided to resign from the party. read full story / add a comment

Early on Saturday morning [August 11], activists from the socialist republican party éirígí and the Independent Workers Union [IWU] joined with local anglers in a fish-in protest on the shoreline on Mizen Head in County Wicklow. read full story / add a comment

Left sectarianism is putting the interests of the left group in front of the interests of the workers movement. It seriously damages the struggle of the working class. The struggle to eradicate this scourge. read full story / add a comment

In this in-depth investigative analysis, Ewan Robertson evaluates the advances and setbacks of the worker control movement in Venezuela, and what Venezuela's experience in worker control means for the Bolivarian revolution and movements for radical social change worldwide. Full text at link.

The struggle for worker control in Grafitos began in early 2009, when the former boss refused to negotiate a new collective contract with the workers’ union and tried to close the factory, taking the machinery with him. In response, the workers began a factory occupation which lasted eight months. For economic reasons many workers had to abandon the struggle, with only 18 remaining in occupation when the Venezuelan government intervened in favour of the workers. The Venezuelan labour ministry released a “decree of temporary occupation for the reactivation of the company”, which in effect awarded the factory to the workers to manage as they saw fit. ...

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Shell has been trying to get a tunnel boring machine into place in Rossport. This feature will serve as a jump off point for information on the progress of the operation and the efforts of the shell to sea protesters. It will be updated with links to new posts on the subject as they come in. read full story / add a comment