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November 09, 2004

News 11/09/04 - Need For Equality Legislation

News about Ireland & the Irish

SF 11/09/04 Inequalities: Why We Need Equality Legislation
TV 11/08/04 Catholics Still Get Raw Deal In North
IC 11/09/04 Dismay As 65 Jobs Go In Poleglass
BT 11/09/04 Call For Jobs Probe At Royal Hospital
BB 11/09/04 Fair Employment Laws 'A Success'
BT 11/09/04 DUP Poised For Crunch Executive Meeting
BT 11/09/04 New Release Hopes For Hostage Annetta
IC 11/09/04 2 Teenagers Injured As Match Ends In Mayhem
IO 11/09/04 Lesbian Couple Granted Challenge To Marriage Laws
IC 11/09/04 Blinded - Doctors Battle To Save Sight Of Colin
RT 11/09/04 Missing Dublin Man Is Found In Paris

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http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/7255

Redressing The Inequalities: Why We Need Equality Legislation

Published: 9 November, 2004

Speaking at a conference in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast titled "Fair
Employment in Northern Ireland: a generation on" Sinn Féin National
Chairperson Mitchel Mc Laughlin MLA said:

"An attitude is prevalent that the north of Ireland has a 'long and
distinguished history' in the field of equality,that we are at the
'cutting edge' of fair employment legislation and 'innovative' in
our practices. The reality is of course different and it should be
remembered that every single piece of equality legislation was hard
fought for, often in the face of indifference, intransigence and
foot-dragging.

"A realistic approach to eradicating inequality must be taken. Yes,
there has been some improvement but not enough. The problems have
long been identified. We know that those who suffer from
unemployment, particularly the long-term unemployed, suffer from
multiple effects of poverty. We know that nationalists suffer
disproportionate disadvantage across all the indicators. We know
that there are pockets of unionist disadvantage which need tackled
also. We know, from Noble, the location of the most disadvantaged
areas and the subsequent strategic investment required to uplift
these areas. We know that the areas, which suffered the greatest
conflict, suffer from the highest levels of poverty and inequality.
Instead of pretending that the fair employment issue is resolved it
is high time to implement radical change.

"We need an improved Equality Commission with more powers and
resources and, crucially, the determination to use them. Sinn Féin,
along with other organisations working in the equality field, have
become increasingly concerned that the Equality Commission itself
is becoming part of the institutional resistance to meaningful
change.

"Sinn Féin wants to work with others, with the Equality Commission,
with government departments, with the equality constituencies to
bring about a truly fair, more equal society. Yet, we find
ourselves increasingly frustrated by the institutional resistance
to equality. Our frustrations and concerns are shared by many that
work in this field. The key question lies around the effectiveness
of the equality tools -- the legislation, the Equality Commission,
Equality Impact Assessment's etc - as a means of remedying
inequality in our society."

Full text of Mr Mc Laughlin's Speech:

An opinion prevails that we in the north of Ireland are at the
'cutting edge' of fair employment legislation and 'innovative' in
the field of equality. The reality is of course different and it
should be remembered that every single piece of equality
legislation had to be fought for, often in the face of
indifference, intransigence and foot- dragging.

Instead of complacency there should be an acknowledgement of the
inherent limitations and lack of political will within the system
to advance the equality and anti- discrimination agenda. The key
determinant of the success or otherwise of anti-discrimination
legislation is whether it is making a tangible difference on the
ground. It is Sinn Féin's view that it has not and that we are
still a long way from achieving equality of opportunity never mind
equality of outcome.

Fair Employment Debate

The Fair Employment debate has been characterised by disagreement
over the nature and extent of discrimination. Some commentators
would generally refuse to acknowledge that structural
discrimination ever existed although others have been prepared to
concede that some isolated incidents of discrimination may have
occurred in the past. Of course, the next step in this argument is
that the past is the past; things are different now and let's move
on.

It is my view that structural discrimination against Catholics and
nationalists in the north of Ireland has occurred and still occurs.
The statistics show that discrimination and disadvantage are
current realities that require urgent solutions.

Redressing the Inequalities: Why we need equality legislation.

Census and other data show that social exclusion, unemployment, and
deprivation do exist and continue to demonstrate why we need
equality legislation. Particular groups and geographic areas
experience these injustices more than others as well as suffering
'adverse impacts' in relation to economic activity. Indeed, their
relative position is now much worse given that prosperity overall
is rising.

Nationalists fare badly across every indicator of deprivation. In
Sinn Féin's view this is no accident. It is symptomatic of the
nature of the state and patterns of discrimination and disadvantage
are continuing.

Nationalist Under-Representation in the Workforce

Monitoring figures from the Equality Commission show that the
steady increase in Catholic participation in the workforce of
approximately 0.5% per annum which occurred throughout the 1990s
has since levelled off. Catholic representation in the private
sector is less than 40%, and in firms with more than 25 employees
there has been a decline. [Equality Commission, Monitoring Report
No. 13]

Monitoring data also demonstrates Catholic under-representation in
public and private sector employment relative to their proportion
of the economically active population. While there is an increase
in the Catholic share of employment, that share is still below the
Catholic proportion of the economically active and the gap has
grown since 1971, as census figures show:

In 1971 Catholics were 31% of the economically active and had 29.1%
of employment, a 1.9 percentage point gap.

In 1991 Catholics were 39.8% of the economically active and had
36.3% of employment, a 3.5 percentage point gap.

In 2001 Catholics were 43% of the economically active and had 39.5%
of employment, a 3.5 percentage point gap.

Unemployment Differential

The 'Unemployment Differential' is regarded as a key indicator of
the effectiveness or otherwise of anti- discrimination measures. The
ratio of Catholic to Protestant unemployment rates has varied e
over the past number of years. In general Catholic male
unemployment rates have run at between two or two and a half times
that of Protestant males. The latest Labour Force Survey figures
just published (October 2004) which cover 2002 show that the
unemployment rate for Catholics was 8.1% against 4.35% for
Protestants.

Thus despite the introduction of supposedly tougher fair employment
legislation, initiatives such as 'old' and 'new' TSN, and a
commitment by the British government in the Good Friday Agreement
to 'progressively eliminate the differential in unemployment rates'
there has been no tangible improvement in the unemployment
differential rates between Protestants and Catholics. On top of
this Catholics are still less likely to be in employment, more
likely to be unemployed, at greater risk of living in lower income
households and/or being dependent on benefits as well as at greater
risk of experiencing multiple deprivation. New TSN policy is only
having a "modest" impact on the differential in unemployment rates
between the two communities.

Conclusions

It is clear that we are still a long way from achieving fair
participation in the workplace as well as equal distribution of
resources.

We have had more than 30 years of fair employment and equality
measures supposedly designed to eliminate discrimination and
inequality in the north of Ireland. And what has been the result?
Across all the indicators of deprivation nationalists continually
suffer the worst disadvantage. It is clear that we live in an
unequal society.

A realistic approach to eradicating inequality must be taken. Yes,
there has been some improvement but not enough. The problems have
long been identified. We know that those who suffer from
unemployment, particularly the long-term unemployed, suffer from
multiple effects of poverty. We know that nationalists suffer
disproportionate disadvantage across all the indicators. We know
that there are pockets of unionist disadvantage which need tackled
also. We know, from Noble, the location of the most disadvantaged
areas and the subsequent strategic investment required to uplift
these areas. We know that the areas, which suffered the greatest
conflict, suffer from the highest levels of poverty and inequality.
Instead of pretending that the fair employment issue is resolved it
is high time to implement radical change. Sinn Féin has some
suggestions.

Recommendations:

Monitoring

It is clearly necessary to retain and strengthen fair employment
policies and the targeting of resources on the basis of objective
need. Monitoring is a necessary tool to track changes and inform
policy. Monitoring and implementation policies need improved.

The Labour Force Survey, for example, has too small a sample while
the basic annual workplace monitoring and the Article 55 reviews
every three years are of little value if the Equality Commission
does not have the resources to analyse and act on the information
collected.

Improved monitoring should also include cases taken to Fair
Employment Tribunals and their outcomes broken down by category and
made freely available to the public. This would track patterns that
have emerged from the cases taken under the legislation, the number
of cases lodged, proportion of findings of discrimination, average
figures for settlements, recommendations made by the Tribunal etc.

There is a need to monitor the impact of 'chill factors' on
employment patterns, particularly the extent to which these exist
in a post-conflict context.

Research suggests that there is greater inequality in smaller
workforces that currently fall below the threshold for compulsory
monitoring, i.e., less than 10 employees.

New TSN should be placed on a statutory footing.

The impact, or lack thereof, of initiatives such as New TSN on
religious and political inequality must be assessed and more
stringent targets set. For example, there has been a consistent
failure to bring investors into specifically targeted TSN areas.
Instead, the designation 'in or adjacent to TSN areas' is being
used. This has the effect of making TSN areas so geographically
wide as to render the definition virtually meaningless while at the
same time DETI and INI claim to be adhering to and surpassing TSN
obligations.

Political Ex-Prisoners

One of the important commitments entered into by the two
Governments in the GFA was to support the resettlement of prisoners
following release. This has not happened. There is a particular
responsibility on us all to secure equality for all affected by
conflict be they victims or ex-prisoners. As part of its equality
agenda, SF wishes to see all historic inequalities dealt with. This
should include the achievement of full citizenship for political
ex-prisoners.

Legal Assistance for Cases

Support for individual cases needs to be reinstated either by
providing the Equality Commission with the necessary financial
resources or by making legal aid available for discrimination
cases. The ability of individuals to initiate legal action against
those who discriminate or who allow harassment/discrimination to go
unchecked must be an ongoing and effective weapon in any strategy
of anti-discrimination legislation.

Equality Commission

We need an improved Equality Commission with more powers and
resources and, crucially, the determination to use them. Sinn Féin,
along with other organisations working in the equality field, have
become increasingly concerned that the Equality Commission itself
is becoming part of the institutional resistance to meaningful
change. The manner in which it dealt with the legal assistance
issue, for example, caused huge concern.

Another concern is around how the Commission is handling Schedule
9, Paragraph 11 investigations. Since its foundation the Commission
has been reluctant to use this power and has only begun to do so
because interested organisations, including Sinn Féin, have asked
the Equality Commission to undertake investigations of public
bodies for their failure to comply with an equality scheme. This
has raised questions around the Commission's own commitment to
vigorous equality enforcement.

Sinn Féin wants to work with others, with the Equality Commission,
with government departments, with the equality constituencies to
bring about a truly fair, more equal society. Yet, we find
ourselves increasingly frustrated by the institutional resistance
to equality. Our frustrations and concerns are shared by many that
work in this field. The key question lies around the effectiveness
of the equality tools -- the legislation, the Equality Commission,
EQIA's etc - as a means of remedying inequality in our society.

To paraphrase: "Some work done: lots more to do".

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Catholics Still Get Raw Deal In North

(by Suzanne Breen, the Village)

A member of the North's Equality Commission has accused the British
government of failing Catholics who still experience substantially
higher unemployment and poverty rates than Protestants.

Una Gillespie was speaking in advance of a major conference on
Tuesday to discuss 30 years of fair employment legislation in the
North. She said that while advances had been made, Catholics still
experienced significant inequality and discrimination. She called
for more economic investment in nationalist areas.

Catholics are twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants, a
figure which has remained virtually unchanged for three decades and
the latest official statistics show Catholics are still suffering
considerable economic disadvantage, Ms Gillespie said.

Sixteen per cent of adult Catholics live in households where no-one
works, compared to 11% of Protestants, according to the figures
published by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First
Minister last month.

More than half of Protestants live in households where everyone
works, compared to just over a third of Catholics. Almost six per
cent of Catholics of working age are unemployed, compared to three
per cent of Protestants.

Although there has been a slight improvement in Catholic male
unemployment rates vis-à-vis the Protestant equivalent, this has
been negated by a widening gap between Catholic and Protestant
female unemployment rates.

Ms Gillespie, a former Sinn Féin councillor, is co-ordinator of the
West Belfast Economic Forum. In September, she was appointed to the
Equality Commission which is charged with tackling discrimination
in the North.

The Commission should be given increased powers and resources, she
said: "Religious inequality in the workforce isn't a thing of the
past. Legislative changes might mean the blatant discrimination of
previous years has decreased but we are still a long way short of
equality.

"The British government is not delivering on the equality agenda it
promised in the Good Friday Agreement. It is failing all working-
class people but it is disproportionately failing Catholics and
women."

Catholics, particularly males, remain under- represented in the
private sector generally, district councils, and security-related
jobs. Protestants are increasingly under- represented in the health
and education segments of the public sector.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=581035

Call For Jobs Probe At Royal Hospital

By Nigel Gould
ngould@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
09 November 2004

DUP MLA Diane Dodds today demanded an inquiry into employment
procedures and practices at Ulster's biggest hospital group, the
Royal, after figures showed an imbalance in the Protestant/Catholic
make-up of the workforce.

Mrs Dodds was speaking today as the Equality Commission hosted a
conference in Belfast to mark 30 years of fair employment law in
the province.

She said that she was in receipt of figures as the result of a
Parlimentary written question, which showed that among cleaning and
ancillary staff only 4.2% of staff come from the Protestant
community.

She said:" The figures are not much better for the catering staff,
where only 7.1% of catering assistants and 18.52% of cooks come
from the Protestant community. Among secretarial staff, only 27.8%
come from the Protestant community. These are staggering statistics
and raises questions for the Minister, the Royal Group and the
Equality Commission."

The Royal Group said it had accepted there was an "under-
representation" of people with particular religious beliefs in a
"small number of our staff groupings."

But in a statement, it said it "strongly" refuted any suggestion
they were doing nothing about it.

"In fact we have an affirmative action plan in consultation with
the Equality Commission to increase the application rate from
Protestants in these groupings," it added.

"We have achieved a balance among, for example, medical, nursing,
midwifery and health visiting, professional and technical staff,
but are aware we will still have some way to go in ancillary and
general groupings."

Mrs Dodds said she had already met with the Royal's chief
executive, William McKee.

And she added: "We all know of the Royal's desire to be known as a
centre of regional excellence. This implies a forward thinking, all
embracing, inclusive strategy of not only clinical excellence but
also work place practices and employment procedures. If the Royal
wants to seriously move in this direction, then it has much work to
do to redress the balance of its workforce.

"My party has already met with the Equality Commission regarding
problems faced by Protestants in the public sector."

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http://www.irelandclick.com/news/news.cfm?id=15725&CFID=63124&CFTOKEN=31738474

Dismay As 65 Jobs Go In Poleglass

Sixty-five workers will lose their jobs after it emerged that
Poleglass manufacturing company Multimedia InfoTech is set to close
before Christmas.

The news has been greeted with concern by the West Belfast MP Gerry
Adams.

"I am extremely disappointed at the decision to close this site,
and it is a blow to both workers and their families in the run-up
to Christmas," said Mr Adams.

"Sinn Féin has written to the plant's global headquarters, Ritzek,
asking them to urgently review the closure decision.

"I have also been in touch with local management and Invest
Northern Ireland."

Mr Adams called on government departments to recognise the need for
commitments on regeneration within West Belfast.

Expressing regret at the closure, Ritzek said that some workers
will now be offered relocation to a plant in Omagh.

Discussions are also underway over the terms of any redundancy
package.

The company, which specialises in manufacturing re-writable CDs for
use on computers, also has a plant in Omagh that employs 100
people.

It was established at Springbank Industrial Estate in 1997, with
the promise of up to 150 jobs.

Journalist:: Jarlath Kearney

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/- /2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3993585.stm

Fair Employment Laws 'A Success'

Fair Employment legislation has been a success in Northern Ireland,
according to the Equality Commission.

A wide range of delegates are examining 30 years of the laws at a
conference in Belfast on Tuesday.

The Equality Commission said it was also an opportunity to debate
issues for the future.

Delegates include policy-makers, politicians, employers, trade
unionists and community activists.

Chief Commissioner Joan Harbison said they would be discussing
"matters that are often vigorously contested".

"The fair employment legislation was designed to tackle religious
and political discrimination in the workplace," she said.

"It was unique and challenging in its time, and indeed still
presents us with challenges.

"Part of our task today is to look back at its development, its
impact, and the lessons learnt from it.

"But we are also looking forward - at how we can build on the
successes and learn from the lessons of the past."

'Ever-changing context'

The chief commissioner said the book recently launched by the
Commission - Fair employment in Northern Ireland: a generation on -
provided clear evidence the legislation had worked.

"It is a story of a good public policy, well applied", she said.

"We in the Equality Commission will listen with interest to the
views coming through today's debates.

"We want the conference to help all those concerned - including the
commission, government, politicians and the social partners - take
this important work forward in an ever- changing context."

Conference speakers include Bob Osborne from the University of
Ulster, Ian Shuttleworth of Queen's University and Shamit Saggar of
Sussex University - former senior advisor to the Cabinet Office.

A panel of local politicians are also debating future policy
agendas.

The panel comprises of Gregory Campbell of the DUP, Sean Farren of
the SDLP, David Ford of Alliance, Mitchell McLaughlin of Sinn Fein
and Dermot Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionist Party.

This discussion is being chaired by BBC Northern Ireland presenter
Noel Thompson.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2004/11/09 08:11:24 GMT
© BBC MMIV

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=581041

DUP Poised For Crunch Executive Meeting

By Noel McAdam, Political Correspondent
nmcadam@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
09 November 2004

The DUP's executive is poised to meet as behind-the-scenes
negotiations on a deal to restore devolution approach crunch point.

With the Government expected to table proposals within ten days, a
senior DUP figure today said talks are at "a sensitive stage".

But Jeffrey Donaldson also made clear that the detail of what is on
the table at the moment is insufficient.

A meeting of the party's executive, possibly next week, could prove
key to reaching a deal by the latest mooted deadline of Thursday,
November 25.

The 80-strong body can ratify a deal without a wider party meeting
- unlike the regular UUP Council meetings of recent years - and
could be summoned within 48 hours.

"It could be an important meeting but we just don't know yet. An
awful lot would have to happen," a leadership source said.

Lagan Valley MP Donaldson said that it appeared the IRA's current
offer "does not match" paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration
setting out paramilitary activities which must be ended.

He said apart from verification of decommissioning, which the DUP
is demanding is transparent and visible, other aspects remain to be
resolved.

"It would be wrong to go into great detail because negotiations are
at such a sensitive stage but at the moment we don't have
sufficient progress," he added.

His assessment came after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned it would be
"tragically ironic" if the prospect of ending IRA activity was lost
because it did not meet "unrealistic" expectations.

"These raise challenging questions for the DUP, specifically,
whether they are genuinely up for partnership politics," he said.

Mr Donaldson said his party had made clear it was willing to
participate with parties who were committed to exclusively peaceful
and democratic means.

"If the Irish Government is lowering the standard, the DUP is not.
The recent Independent Monitoring commission report was a timely
reminder that the IRA retains its full capacity," he added.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=581007

New Release Hopes For Hostage Annetta

By Michael McHugh
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
09 November 2004

There was fresh hope for Afghanistan kidnap victim Annetta Flanigan
today after it emerged that one of her co- hostages has contacted
friends at home to say that she is well and hopes to return home
soon.

Behgjet Pacolli, a wealthy Kosovan based in Switzerland who says he
volunteered to help free the trio, claimed that Shquipe Hebibi made
the satellite telephone call to a friend in Kosovo on Monday.

Ms Hebibi has been held along with Richhill woman Annetta, (43),
and Filipino Angelito Nyan since the election monitors were
abducted from a UN vehicle in Kabul on October 28.

A group calling itself the Army of Muslims has claimed
responsibility for the kidnapping and made a number of demands
including the removal of all UN troops from Afghanistan and the
release of 26 Taliban prisoners held by the coalition.

Mr Pacolli said the message from the Kosovan had been passed to her
family.

"She said she feels good and she will be soon with them in Kosovo,
and I am happy for that," he said.

The businessman added that he had conveyed a message to the
kidnappers via "influential people" - he met former President
Burhanuddin Rabbani on Monday - and had received an answer.

He said no ransom was being offered but declined to elaborate.

Militants had set a deadline of today for Afghan and UN officials
to arrange for the release of 26 Taliban prisoners in exchange for
the handover of the UN hostages, though a spokesman said they would
wait until this evening.

"We're very hopeful they will accept our conditions," Syed Khaled
said.

"If not, the shura (council) will decide what to do next."

Richhill Church of Ireland minister, David Coe, visited the
Flanigan family last night at their home and said he was unaware of
any progress.

"There was no contact with the family last night, the situation is
at a very sensitive stage. I will be going to see them later today
but at the minute I am unaware of this news," he said.

The news that the hostages remain unscathed will come as a relief
to residents in the village who have been waiting nervously for
news.

Kabul has secured the release of several foreign hostages kidnapped
in the troubled south using tribal chiefs and former militant
leaders for behind-the- scenes negotiations.

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http://www.irelandclick.com/news/news.cfm?id=15724&CFID=63124&CFTOKEN=31738474

2 Teenagers Injured As Match Ends In Mayhem

A South Belfast League youth match ended in chaos on Saturday amid
scenes of violence involving both players and supporters.

The incident – which left two lads needing hospital treatment – has
prompted a top-level investigation by League officials. An
emergency meeting called to consider the circumstances of the
affair will be held on Tuesday night, a senior official confirmed.

And it is understood that two complaints were made to the PSNI last
night in relation to the incident.

Saturday afternoon's under-16 match involved Lenadoon team Oliver
Plunkett and Shankill Road team Dunboyne at Cherryvale on the
Ravenhill Road.

The game was being played out to a scoreless draw when a fight
broke out between two players with about twenty minutes left.

Ryan McGlinchey, one of the Oliver Plunkett players, said last
night that all hell broke loose after both players involved in the
melee were sent off.

"As the players were leaving the pitch, one of our team-mates was
attacked and then all of these supporters just ran on right into
the centre of the pitch.

"During the match they had been shouting, but there hadn't been any
physical attacks. When they came on to the pitch, though, they got
stuck in.

"I went over to try to break it up and as I turned round I got
punched on the side of the head."

Both Ryan and a teammate had to attend the Royal on Saturday
evening, with injuries including a split head and a broken thumb.

Ryan's mother Una is furious about what happened to her son.

"The fact is that that these were grown men who came onto a pitch
and that is extremely annoying.

"There were only two adults there with the Oliver Plunkett team,
the manager and Ryan's father, so these young fellas were easy
pickings. I won't be letting this matter rest and I will be looking
for answers," said Una.

Local Sinn Féin MLA Michael Ferguson said the incident was
"despicable" and he called for a full investigation and effective
measures to ensure that a similar incident does not recur.

Journalist:: Jarlath Kearney

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http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=101494200&p=yxy49478x&n=101494809

Lesbian Couple Granted Challenge To Marriage Laws

09/11/2004 - 11:58:15

A lesbian couple were granted leave today to challenge the
Government in the courts for refusing to recognise their same-sex
marriage.

Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan, from Brittas in Dublin,
claimed they were unfairly denied tax relief available to married
couples by the Revenue Commissioner.

In the High Court today, Mr Justice McKechnie said the couple's
legal team had successfully met the requirement for an arguable
case and were entitled to a judicial review.

He said the applicants had claimed the Revenue Commissioner's
actions had violated the 1937 Irish Constitution and also had been
in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

He pointed out that the case was not simply about tax bands or the
extent of allowances for a married couple.

He said it would have profound importance not only for same sex
couples but also for society as a whole.

He added that a number of deeply held customs and practices would
be up for consideration with the institution of marriage at the
centre of this.

"It is right to say it touches on far reaching issues," he said.
Justice McKechnie warned that the decision to grant the judicial
review offered no comment on the ultimate outcome of the case.

He reserved the questions of costs and granted senior counsel for
the two women Dr Gerald Hogan four weeks to prepare a plenary
summons.

Zappone, a public policy research consultant and a member of the
Human Rights Commission, and Gilligan, an academic, have lived
together as a couple for 23 years.

They are joint owners of two properties, their residential home at
Brittas in Dublin and their holiday home in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry.

They were married at a legal ceremony in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, on September 13 last year.

When they returned to Ireland they applied to the revenue
commissioner for tax credits as a married couple but were told that
the provision of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 only related to a
husband and a wife.

While the Act did not define husband or wife the revenue
commissioner said they were using the definition in the Oxford
English Dictionary.

Outside the court today, Zappone said she and her partner were
delighted with the outcome.

"Twenty-three years ago we made a commitment of life partnership to
each other. We have been exceptionally blessed with our
unconditional love for and our fidelity to one another.

"Yesterday and today are simply the first steps to seek legal
recognition of our lifelong love and faithfulness," she said.

"This case is about equality, fairness and human rights as our
legal team have ably outlined in the court."

Zappone thanked family and friends, their legal team and Equality
Authority for their support.

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http://www.irelandclick.com/news/news.cfm?id=15680&CFID=63124&CFTOKEN=31738474

Blinded - Doctors Battle To Save Sight Of Colin

Child's face is burned by a firework

This is the little Poleglass boy who is today lucky to be alive
after a firework exploded in his face.

Colin McKay's mother Josie says she wants children to look closely
at this picture of her injured son, so that they can see the damage
that fireworks in the wrong hands can do.

Ten-year-old Colin sustained burns to his arms, hands and face
after lighting the firework.

The St Kieran's pupil, who is currently in the Royal Victoria
Hospital, will require surgery on his hands and wrists. The child
has also lost his sight through severe flash burning to the eyes,
although his mother says that doctors are hopeful that his sight
will return.

Gary Randal (13), who was with Colin at the time, also suffered
burns to his face and hands.

The boys found the firework on Monday afternoon while playing near
their homes in Glenkeen in Poleglass.

"They found part of a firework when they were playing about and
they lit it and it exploded," said Josie, a mother of three.

"Gary was able to make his way home but Colin couldn't see and he
was running into things.

"When I got him to the house I just stripped the two of them and
covered them with cold water. We put them in the car and rushed
them to the hospital."

Josie says that seeing her son so badly burned was like being in a
nightmare.

"Colin was hysterical and he was just black. Blisters were starting
to come out and there were bits of skin hanging from his face,"
said Josie.

"Then I realised that his hands were burnt as well and skin was
also hanging off them.

"There was smoke still coming off the boys and their clothes were
shredded. You kind of think that bad things like this happen to
other people.

"I hope that this photograph of Colin will stop kids touching
fireworks. I would like to think that the photo would serve as a
scare tactic and hope it will prevent another child being injured,"
she added.

Sinn Féin MLA Michael Ferguson said that Colin's injuries should
serve as a warning to other people.

"It is a miracle that this child is still alive," said Councillor
Ferguson.

"This incident clearly sends out a warning that extra care needs to
be taken with fireworks and that in the wrong hands they can be
extremely dangerous," he added.

The Royal Victoria Hospital last week launched a study into eye
injuries caused by fireworks.

The study showed that a third of all the patients who were injured
as a result of fireworks had a poor visual outcome and half
required some sort of surgery for the injury.

Journalist:: Roisin McManus

******************************************

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1109/missing.html

Missing Dublin Man Is Found In Paris

09 November 2004 09:14

The father of a 21-year-old Dublin man who has been missing for
over three weeks says he has been found safe and well in France.

Patrick Finucane, from Churchtown, said his son Ros was in a
hospital about 30 miles from Paris.

In need of medication, Ros Finucane was last seen in the Dundrum
area of Dublin on the 18 October but telephoned his family from
Paris at the end of last month.

Patrick Finucane said he would travel to France to collect him
tomorrow.

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/- /2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3995571.stm

Sinn Fein plans memorial trees

Sinn Fein's plans for a new civic remembrance day to be held next
month are aimed at promoting reconciliation and equality, the party
has said.

The party's mayors in Northern Ireland will take part in a Day of
Reflection on 10 December.

Tree planting ceremonies will be held on that day at council
offices in Omagh and Strabane, Sinn Fein announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the party said the commemorations were "a genuine
effort to acknowledge the loss of all those from the West Tyrone
area who have died as a result of war and conflict".

It said it aimed to "acknowledge all those who still live with the
pain and memory of that loss".

'Civic leadership'

The party said the Day of Reflection was not intended to replace
existing memorials but was "underpinned by a desire to provide
civic leadership with the aim of promoting reconciliation and
equality".

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said: "It is about facing up to the
challenge of building peace and engagement between people of
different faiths and traditions."

Last week, a man whose father died in the IRA bombing in Claudy
said he may attend the event being planned by the Mayor of Derry.

Sinn Fein Councillor Gerry O'Hara said there would not be any
speeches or statements made on the day, but a plaque will be
erected to the memory of local people who have lost their lives to
war and conflict.

Gordon Millar whose father, David, died in the Claudy bombing, said
he might go if his killers apologised.

"If and when they apologise and say sorry for what had happened,
then certainly I would think about it," he said.

Sinn Fein's participation in remembrance events has been
controversial.

During his term as Belfast's first republican lord mayor in 2002,
Alex Maskey held a Remembrance function for the Royal British
Legion and laid a wreath during a commemoration service for those
killed during the First World War's Battle of the Somme.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2004/11/09 12:12:49 GMT

© BBC MMIV


Jay Dooling (rdooling@swbell.net)
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