Cllr Timmons says ‘’I am delighted to having been elected as the Chairperson of the Newly formed Dublin West MS Ireland Branch , I was chair of the old branch for a number of years and I look forward to developing and building the new branch over the coming years and reconnecting with many people I would of met through MS over the years , the branch covers the whole of South Dublin , Ballyfermot , Crumlin , Walkinstown , Drimnagh and Dublin 8 and will provide a service to people living with Multiple sclerosis in these areas. I would ask that anyone who can help with fundraising for the branch contact me as we will need funds to run events and provide supports , the branch will work with MS Ireland in catering to the needs of people living with MS . My hope is that further research will continue to improve the quality of life for people living with MS and ultimately find a cure ‘’

The Branch will hold its first fundraiser coffee morning on 26^th January at 1130 in Deansrath community center ,we would appreciate the support for the Newly formed branch

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition affecting the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The CNS controls the motor, sensory and cognitive functioning of the body by processing and transmitting messages through a network of nerves.

9,000 people live with MS in Ireland. MS Ireland is the national organisation providing information, vital services and support to the MS community. They provide a wide range of specialised services and resources on a national, regional and local level. Services include; Regional Community Worker programmes for one-to-one support; physiotherapy; symptom management courses; newly diagnosed sessions and the MS Information Line, one of the first services used in the time leading up to or following a diagnosis. They also provide the only national respite and therapy centre for people with MS in Ireland.

MS Ireland also provide an MS Information Line that provides professional and confidential support to everyone living with Multiple Sclerosis. People with MS, their families, friends and colleagues are encouraged to call the team of trained specialists to talk about all aspects of living with the condition. The Information Line is also there to listen to anyone concerned about MS so please get in touch if you would like to share your concerns. The line is open Monday – Friday, 10am-2pm ,Call 1850 233 233 | Email info@ms-society.ie,

Cllr Francis Timmons is running as an Independent Candidate for Dublin Mid-West says ‘’If elected I will lobby and call for a Referendum to be held that Every Child is entitled to a home free from Abuse and Neglect  , I am calling on any candidates running for the Dail to publicly support this and to commit to supporting it if they are elected. There is no sense of urgency in the delivery and building of Homes . Many Children are growing up in Hotels , Hubs or Direct Provision while many more are in Homeless services , if we are serious about cherishing all the children of the Nation Equally we need to deliver homes for Children where they are safe. I believe that this human right should be enshrined in the Irish Constitution.’’

Cllr Francis Timmons who is running as an Independent Candidate for Dublin Mid-West says ‘’If elected I will lobby and call for a National Day of Remembrance for all survivors of Institutions  and to remember all those who didn’t survive , We also need a Survivors museum and a Healing Garden, Survivors need to be able to share and tell their story if they wish. I am also opposed to locking up files for 75 years which I believe is a blatant attempt to cover up the many wrongs of the past. The Retention of Records Bill is a slap in the Face to all Survivors , Survivors should decide how the records are maintained ‘’

Timmons says ‘’I also believe The site of the last Magdalene Laundry on Sean Mc Dermot Street must remain in state ownership and serve as a place of remembrance and healing for all those who went through church and state institutions.’’

Timmons says ‘’Many of us felt firstly no one would listen and secondly that no one would believe us , I hope that Survivors issues and the needs of Survivors is dealt with by the next Government in real and meaningful manner, this Election Gives Survivors a chance to voice their issues to all Candidates running for the Dail ’’

Cllr Timmons (Chairperson) says ‘’I am honoured to be the Chairman of a great event that I attended when I was a kid. Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show had another great year in 2019 and is going from strength to strength. We won an award at the South Dublin County Council, Community Endeavour awards 2018. the Gradam Cultuir agus Oidreacht na hEireann, this is the heritage and culture of Ireland award.  So that’s a huge plus for the show, we were delighted to win this’’

Cllr Timmons says ‘’The 2020 show will be another two day event this year on the 20^th June (Newlands Home & Garden Center) and 21^st June (Aras Chronan) this will be our sixth year since the revival of the great and very Popular community-based event that originally ran for 30 years , there is literally something for everyone and both days will have balloon making , Face painting , free demonstrations and music so there is something for everyone , they are two busy family fun days’’

Cllr Timmons says ‘’This show is a chance to showcase what is great about Clondalkin and our wider county . This year there is no charge for Children’s entries and we are also running free Workshops in Lucan , Tallaght and Clondalkin Libraries for Children – for more on this contact the Libraries. We hope to announce other workshops soon in the run up to this event’’

Follow us on Facebook @ Clondalkin Handcraft & Horticultural Show

Cllr Timmons says This year’s Fairtrade fortnight will be Monday 24 February – Sunday 8 March , Clondalkin is a Fairtrade Town and to mark this we will be hosting a Fairtrade Bake-off

In Aras Chronan on Monday 2^nd March at 6pm entry is free but the entry must include a Fairtrade product . also we are holding an art competition and entries can be left into Clondalkin Library from 24^th to  4^th February , I am calling on everyone to buy Fairtrade when they can’’

Tvs Catherine Leyden will be our Guest Judge

Follow us on Facebook @ Clondalkin Fairtrade Town

1. Do you support our campaign?

I 100% support this campaign as i believe that to much of Clondalkin Heritage has been destroyed or lost. I put in objections to the planning application.  I don’t believe nursing homes are the way we should be going. Retirement Villages are the way we should be going instead of large scale institutional care homes. We  have 3 large ones given planning in Clondalkin very near each other. (Monastery Road , Boot Road and at Convent) – We need Home care Packages that would allow our older people stay at home and live independent supported lives into old age, I strongly feel it is regrettable that the Nuns haven’t met with the Campaign group and tried to come up with any compromise.

2. In what ways have you supported our campaign so far?

– I wrote to SDCC and An Bord Pleanála to object to the Planning.

-I have supported and donated to fundraising efforts and will continue to do this.

– I have shared my video and support on my social media platforms.

– I have attended meeting when possible both public and Committee meetings.

– I delivered leaflets and shared events of social media.

– I have attended both public Rally’s.

– I have sought and got answers from SDCC.

– I wrote to the Archbishop of Dublin and the Presentation Nuns to voice my objection.

– I support the campaign in any way i can.

3. What is your reaction to planning applications not having to include full disclosure of proofs of ownership as part of the planning process?

I was active in getting responses to questions posed by the committee in regards to this, I was disgusted and shocked to learn this. Its another farcical failure in our planning system.  I strongly believe the Nuns Should have to prove they own the land.

4. In what ways do you intend to support our campaign in the immediate and farther future? [Please keep in mind that our future may involve having to go to court.  We may have to find a suitable authority to bring our hopes to fruition or do so ourselves.  We will need various assistances during all these processes.  We wonder in what ways you can assist us.]

I 100% support the campaign and will assist in any way I can. I have put out feelers for any sympathetic layers-barristers that might support us if we go to court.

5. What if anything do you expect from us in return?

I am glad to support my Hometown and Community

6. Do you give your permission for your response to be included on our Facebook page?

Yes glad to support

Cllr Francis Timmons

Independent

Peace Commissioner

Firstly I want to express my deep sadness at the Tragic events in Newcastle 3 Beautiful lives lost I want to express my sympathy and solidarity to the Father . Family and Friends and the wider community who have been effected by the huge sadness and loss

Ladies and Gentlemen, Elected members and all present I was hugely honoured to be elected in 2014 and again in 2019, I take the role of elected councillor very serious my commitment has and always will be to work hard and to offer community, Honesty and integrity , Less than 3 months ago I stood and asked the people of Dublin Mid-West to Vote Timmons Number 1 and in the By Election I came 5th ahead of People Before Profit , Labour , The Greens and others and just 865 votes behind Fianna Fail

This election is about Choices it is not about personalities or who can promise the most , who can giveaway the most , it not about Tweedledum and Tweedledee , not about who brought this country to its Knees ? who brought the IMF to our door? who bailed out unsecured bondholders ? who cut community services? We know who did what and when!  it’s not about the broken election promises that are rarely if ever delivered, it’s about the Homeless families that live in the Maldron Hotel tonight,  its about the Homeless on our Streets , its about People on Hospital Trolleys and People waiting on long lists for operations and Procedures , its about us , we deserve better our children deserve better our older citizens deserve better You Deserve better

Yes This Election is about Choice

Ask yourself !

Do You want New and better Politics?

Do You believe we can do better in Housing ?

Do You believe we can do better in Health?

Do You believe we can do better for the Homeless?

Do You believe we can do better in Fair pay for a fair days work?

Do You believe we can do better in Autism Services?

I believe we can do better in all this and so much more!

If elected to Dail Éireann I will press my own voting button and no one else’s I will only sign in when I am there and I won’t collect Travel expenses to get to and from the Dail,

Despite my increased odds Paddy Powers still says the odds are against me but I have never shyed away from a fight and I need each of you to spread the word that my campaign is poster free and ask them for a vote for Timmons.

I have made some commitments let me run through them with a little taster of each  , I want to demonstrate in part that these are not just election issues or promises that will be broken I am already very active in each commitment because I believe Action speaks louder than words

Firstly I want to acknowledge Climate change, we can’t tax ourselves out of Climate change, We need to educate ourselves and change our behaviours, to help us change we need many things like a Luas or Metro, a proper working Transport system, return plastic bottles banks We need radical and rapid change before 2050 This has to be government led and those elected must offer us affordable alternatives and sustainable grants to retro fit our homes and Heat alternatives for our homes. In my time on SDCC I had many motions passed but one I am proud of is the introduction of keep cups. We need to Reduce Reuse and Recycle – We have in Dublin Mid-West many excellent Tidy Towns who are already leading the way in Climate change and keeping our towns the best place to Live, Visit and work in. I sit on the Environment SPC in SDCC and was very active in the Climate Change Strategy and also have made a lot of submissions to the Litter plan that is being updated, In this election (and the previous Bye-election) I have made the conscientious decision to go Poster free.  I know this might hurt my campaign but actions speak louder than words. Posters take 400 years to biodegrade and They are hung using one-use plastic cable-ties which are often left behind on poles after election and The cost of these posters is in part refunded to candidates after the election which means the more spent by a candidate on their campaign the more it will cost YOU the taxpayer So in regards to Climate Change We are up to the challenge doing nothing is not an option, there is No Planet B?

Housing is a desperate need in SDCC with a huge demand in Dublin Mid-West, I have supported all but one proposal to build on part of Knocklyon football club. Unfortunately there is an upcoming proposal to build on the Woodlands in Rathcoole which I can’t support, we can’t talk climate change and knock down 10,000 trees and destroy a whole eco system. I want sustainable and integrated Housing a mix of Private, Social and affordable Housing spread equally around our county. I want to see us building housing and not relying on the private market to supply housing that is pushing up rents and taking the house purchase option away from many especially young who are struggling to save a deposit and to get a mortgage. I want to raise the issues of sub-standard housing and the issues of the buildings in Balgaddy in the Dail and get the issues resolved. I want to call for a cross Dail committee to agree a plan on Housing and Homeless and to stop using it as political football , this effects Peoples lives and the next Dail must address it I will lobby for a referendum to insert in Our Constitution that Every child has the right to a Home free from abuse and Neglect

Anti-social behaviour needs to be dealt with we need a 24 Hour Garda station in Rathcoole and a full resourced Garda station for Clonburris SDZ , We need Guards on the beat and we need to review the criminal justice system and in particular how we deal with young offenders.  We need more community Guards the Guardia Resources are not there to tackle the level of crime and Anti-social behaviours in are areas. Two initiatives I was responsible for in SDCC are the Scrambler and Quad forum and the horse forum both are working groups that are looking at Legislation and Education in both areas and involve the four local Dublin Authorities working together on these issues.

Mental Health needs additional resources , We have many crisis in our country and the stress and pressure people feel is Killing us, we need to offer people safe , integrated and Happy communities where we can all live and work side by side. I have many initiatives I undertake yearly including an event in December in St Johns church in Clondalkin, I also support the introduction of Cocos law to stop online CyberBullying. I would lobby for a nationwide debate on Mental  Health

Infrastructure – we have a lack of infrastructure in Dublin Mid-West our roads are at gridlock at certain times of the day we need a Metro or Luas we cannot sustain the amount of Traffic currently and into the future with new builds planned. We again need a cross Dail approach to come up with a national plan to connect all areas of our county and wider afield.

Community – when I was a kid two of the things I looked forward to every year was the Paddy’s day Parade and also the Horticultural show, I am now chair of both, I am several voluntary boards, Bawnogue and Knockmitten community centres, Quarryvale Family resource centre, Aunua Academy for Mental Health and The Christine Buckley Education and support centre, I commit to developing integrated community facilities and among them supporting the Lucan Swimming pool campaign and Lucan Esker boxing club. I am also committed to and run Clondalkin Helping homeless that helps 60 plus families a week with food and supplies along with rough sleepers in the area. Tomorrow we bring back another tradition in our Brigid’s festival everyone is welcome

 Disability with 30 years in social care , I have the experience and knowledge to be an advocate and voice for disabilities in Dail Éireann , I believe in the right to medication like Spinraza and the right of all people living with SMA to have it like Glen in Clondalkin and Sam in Rathcoole. I will advocate and work to implement the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities that Ireland has at last ratified now it needs to make a real difference to peoples lives. I will fight for changing places for People with a disability that will improve their opportunities for real and meaningful inclusion.

I will be a strong voice and lobby for a National Museum and Garden for survivors of institutional abuse in this country, we can never or should we ever forget the suffering of many women and children in this country who went through the Magdalene laundries the mother and baby institutions, the county institutions, the industrial schools and all other institutions, the time is now for truth, justice and healing unless we learn and acknowledge the past we are destined to repeat it. Many felt firstly no one would listen and secondly no one would believe them,   every survivor has a story to tell and they must get a chance to put their story onto the record in a museum if they wish, I want to be a Strong voice for the 57,000 survivors still alive. I will call for a national Day of Remembrance.

I remain committed to an end to the Direct Provision system and to introduce a fair reception type model based on best international standards. I detest children growing up in such and system and children growing up in hotel rooms both have an adverse effect on mental health and quality of life.

As a proud member of the LGBT community I am committed to full equality and to that end I actively campaign for Hate Legislation, to read that 77% of LGBT feel bullied in school is horrendous in 2019, we have come a long way since the dark days pre 1994 decimalisation but we have a way to go and I want to be a voice on that journey. 

So tonight I am asking for your help to elect me – I am asking people to take a few leaflets and pass onto neighbours, friends and Family. If you can take one of my old posters and put in your home window for this election this would be appreciated or / and a car sign.

I have been successful with support from others to have got the webcasting of council meetings budgeted for in 2020, I believe this will increase and promote Transparency and Openness.

I want to thank everyone that has helped me in this campaign , dropped leaflets , displayed car poster and Window poster and generally offered support and encouragement , the social media likes and comments and shares , I am feeling the love, Please continue to support in anyway you can in this the last week before the election. One last push.  

My life has been dedicated to working with and supporting the less well off, the most vulnerable in our society, Last November SDCC met to decide and vote on the 2020 budget for our county, it’s one of the most important votes we take, Unfortunately the ruling group of FG . FF, Greens and Ronan Mc Mahon, Alan Hayes voted Junkets over Homeless and to increase councillor training budget, and they increased council rents and took away a senior citizens grant. The decisions made angered me, and left me disillusioned, I feel so sorry for the less well-off and vulnerable children and older people in SDCC after a disaster of a budget. I appeal to people to consider the people that voted for this and I ask that you think of the less well off when you go to vote

What can an Independent do ? Well on SDCC I joined in an alliance with my Colleagues Cllrs Gogarty , O Connell , O Toole and Edge to form a working group we achieved a lot on SDCC and are the hardest working group on SDCC, We have submitted 100s of Motions and been active in every debate including the Clonburris SDZ where we brought the community concerns and issues to the council via motions and debate and then An Bord Pleanála. In this regard I am asking this time for people to Vote Independent Number 1 Timmons and Number 2 Gogarty  Every vote will matter and Transfers will play a huge part in deciding who gets elected.  So please please please spread the word Number 1 Timmons and Number 2 Gogarty

I am keenly aware of an apathy against politics and politicians and after the SDCC Budget debacle I can somewhat understand but for someone that believes we can be the best country, that we can live together and that we can have an equal and fairer Ireland For someone that believes in Honesty, Integrity and community on the 8th February Vote Timmons Number 1

PosterFreeTimmons

In this election (and the previous Bye-election) I have made the conscientious decision to go Poster free. I know this might hurt my campaign but actions speak louder than words.

Posters take 400 years to biodegrade

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Hate_Speech_Public_Consultation

 Cllr Timmons says ‘’ I welcome public consultation into Hate Speech Legislation , it Is imperative that Legislation covers all forms of Hate and that any new legislation needs to provide supports for people who are victims of Hate Crime and a system where they can feel safe and secure to report this Crime , a national data base of a log should be kept by the state to provide figures that reflect the issues and the legislation reviewed as the information dictates and I suggest a review of legislation maybe after 3 years of a national Log’’  

 Cllr Timmons says ‘’ Current legislation is not protecting members of the LGBT Community , Immigrants and  the Traveller community . Given the effect Of Hate Crime on Mental Health it is vital to provide full support and follow up and upfront information to the victim of Hate Crime  , As Ireland is an diverse and multicultural society no one should feel a Hate attack on themselves physically , mentally or emotionally , we should be a country that protects all our people’’

Cllr Timmons says ‘’ Wording should also include that the Laws of the land are respected and private opinions and religious teachings are not a defence for Hate speech , All forms of social media , email , phone or text hate speech should be included ‘’

Video on Call it out Campaign: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CaXtGMw7Y4  

A South Dublin councillor and Dublin Mid-West By election candidate Cllr Francis Timmons is calling for a state museum and “healing garden” to be built on the site of the last Magdalene Laundry owned by the state. The building on Sean McDermott Street was the last laundry to close in 1996. In September 2018 , Dublin City councillors voted to block the sale of the former laundry to a Japanese hotel chain.

Clondalkin councillor Francis Timmons said: “This site must remain in state ownership and serve as a place of remembrance and healing for all those who went through church and state institutions’’

He said “As we again approach the Christmas Season , There are many survivors who find Christmas particularly hard. , Many mothers think about the sons they have no contact with. Others mourn the Christmases that were lost as children , Everyone has their memories, their story to tell. They need to be shared and heard. As a survivor myself I want my story told about the institution I was in and how I was used in the Vaccine Trials”

Cllr Timmons added that building such a memorial would give survivors of such institutions “a real opportunity for healing and truth telling , Many of us who survived felt firstly that no one would listen and secondly that no one would believe us”.

“I acknowledge and hope that this site gives the whole State an opportunity and potential to come to terms with our dark and dreadful past history and offers a real chance to examine has the State learned from the huge wrongs done to so many in our past,” he said.

“It gives us a chance to have a place that could offer healing services to the survivors and those surviving, all those bereaved and those with living bereavement.

“To the families torn apart and all in the State, a chance for the nation to face up to our dark past and to move forward ensuring that we have learned from our past and that the awful abuse and neglect of the past is never repeated.”

‘’As part of my campaign I am highlighting the need for a state Museum and memorial Garden to remember the Forgotten Irish , those that survived and those that are surviving.