Dublin Corporation considers ban on spontaneous O'Connell St protests (1 Viewer)

[pete]

i think the time has come to make this an architect free zone....

for the kids, like

 

[admin]

Apparently you're gonna need permission from the Corporation for a group of 6 or more people to parade down O'Connell Street....

In accordance with the procedures laid down in the Local Government Act 1994, notice is hereby given that it is proposed to make Event Management Bye-Laws for the area within the O'Connell Street Integrated Area Plan. These Bye-Laws are intended to regulate public events in the O'Connell Street area.

Objections and / or representations in relation to the Draft Bye-Laws should be made in writing to: The Project Manager, O'Connell Street Integrated Area Plan, Block 4, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, before 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday 9th May 2001.

And sure here's a link to the Draft bye-laws.

 

[danny]

critical mass cycle thang friday the 30th.a wee bit of planning went into this i believe, so does that exempt this from the 'spontaneous' tag?

 

[rothko]

Irish Times sez :

Dr Gerard Hogan SC, a lecturer in law in Trinity College and a member of the Constitutional Review Group, said: "If these by-laws come in their current form, they won't have a long life. They won't survive challenge in the courts."

He told The Irish Times the local authorities had power to introduce by-laws for land under their control, such as prohibiting football in parks or insisting dogs were leashed. Assuming they controlled the roads was a big proposition.

Even if that was accepted, "you can't abolish the constitutional right to assembly by a bylaw. It's as simple as that.

"The right to assembly can only be controlled by an Act of the Oireachtas, on the basis that it might lead to a breach of the peace, a danger to the public or a nuisance in a legal sense. I don't think even an Act of the Oireachtas imposing the kind of restrictions proposed here would be possible.

"The proposed notice, for instance, completely frustrates the right to have spontaneous demonstrations."

The proposals have also been criticised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and by Labour Senator Joe Costello. Senator Costello said the proposed by-laws would sound a death-knell to the public's right to protest and demonstrate in the State's capital city. O'Connell Street, he said in a statement, was associated with many significant demonstrations that were part of our political history. He mentioned the Jim Larkin protests, the tax marches and those in support of the Birmingham Six.

"The proposed by-laws, accompanied by swingeing fines and draconian powers of arrest, would represent a full-scale attack on the civil right of freedom of assembly and protest. It is nonsense to suggest that public demonstrations have had a negative economic effect on shops and businesses."

 

[pete]

From ireland.com:

The right to free assembly on Dublin's O'Connell Street may become a thing of the past if new "event management by-laws" for the area are passed, according to a pressure group established to fight the proposals.

Dublin Corporation's proposals, revealed at a low-key council meeting two weeks ago, is part of attempts "to balance the right of access and egress to O’Connell Street with the rights of public assembly on O’Connell Street" the campaigners claimed.

Once made public, the proposals prompted the formation of The Freedom of Assembly Campaign, "a coalition of groups and individuals to oppose the planned new event management by-laws in Dublin city center".

The campaign is being backed by politicians, members of the Government, and students unions, including Senator Joe Costello, Councilor Ciaran Cuffe and Ivana Bacik, TCD Reid professor of law.

"The new proposed by-laws represent a draconian attack on basic civil rights" said campaign spokesperson Ms Grace Lally.

The laws will require organisers of any march or demonstration to give 31 days notice prior to any planned march and provide a (refundable) £2000 deposit for assemblies of greater than 50 people.

Events involving more than 300 people will be subject to a council veto and will require proof of £3 million insurance policy before being allowed through.

At a press conference yesterday in Trinity College, the Campaign announced plans to protest at the next meeting of the Corporation in City Hall on Monday.

"They think they can get away with what they want" said Trinty College's students union president, Mr Rory Hearne. "Who is the city for?" "Whose streets are these?," he asked.

A spokesman for Dublin Corporartion told ireland.com the planned by-laws were still in their embryonic stages and far from finalised. He continued by expressing the Corporation's "anxious" desire "to get informed comment" on the by-laws and other issues pertaining to the matter.

 

[pete]

A report on last night's demonstration, accompanied by photo's of Communists, Socialists, Students and other ne'er do wells can be found here:

http://struggle.ws/wsm/news/2001/demo_ban_apr.html

Although I do think maybe they could do with considering causal / casual relationships