WHAT PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT HAS DONE

Cllr Melisa Halpin:

  • Has been campaigning on housing since she became a councillor. She works with Richard Boyd Barrett to bring people in need of housing into the Dail to highlight their issues. Melisa is now actively seeking to set up Housing Action Campaign that will force the government to build houses and give relief to those in mortgage distress.
  • Proposed a motion to use an existing building in Dun Laoghaire for the Central Library and to use the €36 million to give us our baths, to upgrade Moran’s Park and to maintain local library services – this motion was rejected by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour.
  • Worked with the residents in the areas surrounding AMGEM to try and protect this residential area from industrial development. A motion to have a buffer zone of 10 metres along bu the new factory was blocked by councillors from Fine Gael and Labour.
  • Has successfully kept the issue of a boat service from Coliemore Harbour to Dalkey Island on the council agenda. Work has now commenced to repair Coliemore Harbour and hopefully boat trips will be running to the Island this summer.
  • Was the first councillor to put the planned oil rig in Dublin Bay on the council agenda and spearheaded the campaign with Save Our Seafront to stop this rig.
  • Won a motion to keep our forests in public ownership at a council meeting in 2011 and was key to the successful campaign to Save Ireland’s Forests which organised the Walk in the Woods in Avondale in May 2013.
  • Proposed motions on Marriage Equality and in favour of the Right to Choose
  • Won unanimous support at council level for a proposal to introduce a progressive rates scheme which would small and struggling businesses get a reduction. This could have a real impact on Dun Laoghaire town but it needs government backing to happen.
  • Has been campaigning for parking charges to be reduced. The recent reduction in Dun Laoghaire is a step forward but not good enough.
  • Does not take council expenses for conferences and has consistently campaigned against the Junket Culture in the council.
  • People Before Profit was the only party to support prioritising a swimming pool at the baths site and to oppose giving €1.5 million to the floating pool in the harbour.