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Rob Connolly has been active for years on many issues affecting  working people and communities in Dublin. Rob first became active in the anti water charges in the mid 1990s. That mass campaign was able to defeat the ‘Rainbow’ government of Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left, forcing them to abolish the hated tax nationally.

Cllr. Mick Barry is a proven fighter for the rights of working class people. He was the key organiser of the 3,000-strong protest in Cork city in 2008 to defend medical cards for the over 70s.

Mick Murphy is the Socialist Party/United Left Alliance candidate for Dublin South West in the general election. Mick has been active fighting for working people for more than 20 years. He was a leading figure in the successful Anti Water Charges Campaign.

Cian Prendiville has been active on many issues in Limerick. Cian helped organise student protests against fees in UL. He has actively assisted workers at Dell, Mr Binman and Element 6 fight on issues from pay cuts to redundancies.

The threat from Minister Lenihan yesterday in the Dáil that public sector workers face further cuts in their wages unless public service cutbacks are implemented quicker demands a fighting response from the trade union movement.

The news that the taxpayer will have to stump up over  €7 million to a major developer for land for a secondary school at Kellystown, Clonsilla, Dublin, will stun most ordinary people.

Minister Harney's mission was to open up the private healthcare market to competition because of future benefits to 'consumers' she promised.

Yesterday's interview on RTE Radio One News reveals that Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore, believes that the most crucial issue in the forthcoming General Election is the number of seats Labour will win relative to Fine Gael and therefore whether he or Deputy Kenny will be Taoiseach. Nothing in any of the recent interviews he has given indicate that Labour offer any alternative to the cutback consensus.

The reported results of research by the philanthropic Bertelsmann Foundation in Germany which show that Ireland ranks among the worst in the western world in terms of social justice is a fresh indictment on this government.