Ireland Stand Up – the name seeming to conjure up that version of Irish nationalism of yore where Catholicism was an assertion of ‘Irishness’ – cannot be too well staffed. It has a pitiful number of Facebook followers and has been up and running for little more than two months. Yet, they managed to draw 55 TDs and 20 Senators, including no less than Minister for Europe Lucinda Creighton (above with Eamon Gilmore), to a meeting in Buswell’s hotel near Leinster House last week. Creighton offered her support to the group’s agenda, namely that the Irish government ought to (eventually) reverse its callous decision to nix the Irish embassy to the Holy See!

When you hear of valuable advocacy networks for prison reform; or immigrants say, failing to attract even a tenth of these numbers (let alone endorsements) at meetings in Leinster House then something is seriously awry.

 

Standing up for the Holy See (James Cussen, Politico)

(Photocall Ireland)

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, had to be extracted from a restaurant near Parliament House as angry protesters banged on the glass.
Supporters of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra picketed the Lobby restaurant over comments by Mr Abbott this morning that the tent embassy should close.
As many as 200 gathered in front of the restaurant, banging on its glass walls and yelling “shame” and “racist”.

PM Dragged Away After Being Trapped By Protesters (The Age)

Thanks Mark Geary

During a day of action last week, which saw websites including Wikipedia voluntarily going offline for the day, Sopa will not be passed in its current format in the US.
Mr Sherlock denied the legislation was equivalent to the proposal in the US.

“This is not Sopa legislation, it’s nowhere near it,” he said.

He described the online reaction to his proposals as “disproportionate” and said the Government would never act to limit freedom of expression.

Mr Sherlock wrote to TDs last night stating the implementation of the legislation was necessary following a 2010 High Court ruling in which music publisher EMI sought an injunction against internet provider UPC, ordering it to block access to websites that allowed illegal downloading.

While the court found EMI’s rights were breached, Mr Justice Peter Charleton pointed out he could not grant the injunction as the Copyright Act did not provide for this remedy.

Mr Sherlock told TDs the purpose of the proposed legislation is “simply to provide explicitly that injunctions may be sought”.

Ah. Well that’s alright then, isn’t it?

Internet Piracy Law Will Be balanced, Says Minister (Irish Times)

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