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LABOUR SENATOR IVANA Bacik launched her campaign this evening as she bids to win a seat in the upcoming Dublin Bay South bye-election.
Criticising the government as “a shambles” and “entirely lacking in vision”, she emphasised affordable housing, decent healthcare and childcare, and tackling climate change as some of her key priorities heading into the campaign.
Earlier today, one of Bacik’s rivals to fill the seat vacated by former Fine Gael housing minister Eoghan Murphy, his party colleague James Geoghegan, set out his stall at a press conference with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Varadkar indicated it would be likely that the bye-election will be held during the summer.
In the four-seater, Dublin Bay South already has TDs from Fianna Fáil (Jim O’Callaghan), the Green Party (Eamon Ryan) and Sinn Féin (Chris Andrews).
While Geoghegan is hoping to retain the seat for Fine Gael, Bacik will be aiming to take the seat and add to Labour’s six seats in the 33rd Dáil.
It’s official🙌🌹✊🗳️@ivanabacik is our @labour by-election candidate for Dublin Bay South.🗳️
— The Labour Party (@labour) May 17, 2021
Join #TeamIvana - get involved.🌹✊
Let’s do this #dbs21
Sign up here https://t.co/GTXzo3Lwma pic.twitter.com/0pSIQvrCU9
She said this evening: “I am really proud to be a candidate here on my home ground. My family home is here in Terenure where my mother still lives, I went to school and college in the constituency, following graduation I lived in Ringsend and the south inner city – and for many years now have lived with my own family in Portobello.
And I have been a Labour member in this constituency for many years – I first joined what was then Dublin South East as a student through Trinity Labour – I want to give particular thanks to all the comrades in Trinity Labour who have already been busy on my behalf stuffing envelopes – in the best tradition.
Bacik said that the government is “failing”, “driven by vested interests” and said “there is no one who believes its half-hearted schemes will make a difference”.
She said that the pandemic has shown how much government can do in an emergency situation and this bye-election was an opportunity to shake Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil out of their “complacency”.
“Alongside our economic recovery, we must also ensure a social recovery with real progress on building sustainable communities,” she said. “We need to focus public spending on vastly increased provision of affordable housing; on decent healthcare, childcare and social care, on investment in education, on public amenities and on tackling climate change.
“In this constituency, care is a huge issue. So many people that I have met over the last few weeks and months have spoken with me about their difficulties in accessing quality affordable childcare; about their concerns for older relatives and lack of care options; and about the appalling lack of places for children with additional needs in local schools.
“I have led the development of a national childcare policy for Labour; and have been working with parents of children with additional needs to secure increased provision of school places.”
She said the Labour party’s vision is similar to that of the post-war Labour party in Britain – “a national health service and welfare system to provide support ‘from cradle to grave’”.
Bacik added: “That’s the vision that we in Labour are now putting forward for Irish society as we come through this awful crisis. I would like to play a part in making that vision a reality and that’s why I am honoured to be your candidate.”
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I had skin cancer in the loop of my ear people need to watch small scab type abrasion I discovered one but took no heed for a while Suddenly I would wake up and find spots of blood in my pillow in the am the scab would fall off but in a few days it would be back . My doctor did a biopsy it turned out to be a type of skin cancer that I have forgotten the name of now which resulted in a few trips to the plastics dept at St James hospital who are a lovely bunch of staff . It was never going to kill me I am told but if left without surgery it would have created a lot of problems in me ear in later life.I am fully cured now thank God I am glad I did not wait around.
@Alan Scott: There are 3 types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, which the lady in the article had. I had it last year – mine was small, so it was surgically removed with no need for further treatment, but without treatment it would keep growing. Another is squamos cell carcinoma – this one spreads to lymph nodes and other organs, so more dangerous, but still very slowly growing. Finally, melanoma, the most agressive and dangerous one.
@Zmeevo Libe: Working outdoors in the 70′s up through the years wearing no sun protection with the knowledge not been as good as it is now is where it would have started mine . Thanks for the information.
I just looked up Boot’s website and there was sun protection creams for under €2. You can get a hat in Pennys for a few euros too; that’s plenty of sun protection for the price of a pint. It’s hard to believe anyone would forgo sun protection on cost grounds.
@Shane Mc Intyre: Yep, value is out there. . 3 bottles of sun lotion in Lidl for under €10.
@Shane Mc Intyre: Stuff is crap. Do some research.
@thesaltyurchin: Well it isn’t. Used Lidl factor 50 on holiday this year. Didn’t even tan. That’s my ‘research ‘.
@IMHO: Likewise. I use the Aldi factor 50 all the time. I buy 3 or 4 four small bottles every year and always keep one in the car. I never burn with it on, so it’s perfect. There, that’s the second case study!!
To the lady who started this cancer story I would like to wish her the very best of health in the future.
We have an odd relationship with the sun and how we’re viewed by others. The number of young women with orange bodies and paint between their fingers is only rising, it is not normal to spray/coat yourself in product that makes you look like you’ve been to Titan for a holiday.
@Osprey: not just young women. Did you see all the oompa loompas that were playing in last Sunday’s all Ireland?
DEALZ have a range of sun creams and sun blocks for €1.50.
I had a melanoma a few years ago and luckily caught it in time. I only got checked what looked to me like a normal mole because I knew someone who died from it at a similar young age to myself. I never sunbathed, I don’t burn too easily but critically I didn’t usually wear sun cream or a hat. It seems like something that happens to other people until it happens to yourself. Prevention is the way to go.
Buy the kids suncream, no vat and exactly the same as the adults one except for maybe extra moisturizer.
I think skin cancer can be avoided if you don’t lie out in the sun.
@Joe Foley: or walk on windy sunny days.
@Joe Foley: but if you lie indoors it’s a mortal sin
Watch the price shoot up now!
I got Lip cancer , my doctor told me it was very unusual in women! It’s known as the Canadian farmers disease! I idi wear factor but never lipstick .
I also live in Spain.
Anyway after a horrific surgery all is well but I never leave the house without wearing Factor under makeup and all my lipsticks have sun factor built in.
As an aside while in Australia I noticed Huge 2 litres bottle of sun cream for about 10 dollars and on the beaches there were free stations with sun protection.
When you see people enjoying sun bath without protection and using UV treatment to look brown, I am not surprised.
No sympathy for people who don’t do the minimum to protect themselves.
The story should also warn against sun beds, the sun is only one problem but wind burn on hot days is another. Factor 50 water proof is best sun cream it should be free on medical card and GP cards at least once a year.
A pal of mine died very young from skin cancer that went to her brain. She left young children behind. If you have any sores that do not heal get it checked.
200ml Lacura Sun Lotion SPF 30 from Aldi should last a normal person for a year. 4.99 Euro at Aldi
@Johannes Baader: People want to buy trendy products so that they look good on their sun lounger. Lidl and Aldi are anathema to some.
Wide brimmed hats may cost a bit but it is a single outlay. The last for ages.
Another dodgy story about made up survey. 7 out of 10 people will agree to almost anything you ask them if you phrase the question right
Black Seed Oil I hear is a very good protectant.
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