After six long, uncomfortable hours we finally arrived in München Hauptbahnhof. We scurried off and were, luckily without much toil, able to secure ourselves accommodation for two nights which we booked in the nearby tourist office. With shelter no longer an issue, we were free to breathe the air of the German culture once again.

Munich is a lovely city and its loveliness was, at least for the two of us, expressed through Marienplatz. Dominated by the Neues Rathaus, the plaza emanates a sort of chaste, virginal beauty and the golden statue of Mary on the Marian column in the centre of the square complements the scene wonderfully.

Battalions of pretty crimson poppies stood at attention along the windowsills as the sun’s rays gently caressed the silently candescent bricks and glimmering windows. As I stood and was bathed in the twilight shimmer, everything adopted a washed-out saffron appearance. Few times had I felt as calm, internally, than those few minutes I spent existing there and then.

The following day saw us visit the two famous local royal castles Linderhof and Neuschwanstein. The exhilaration of this excursion was twofold, for it included some of the finest, most breathtaking phenomena I have so far experienced from both the natural and civilised spheres. A written account of the aesthetic charm of this serene alpine spot will fail miserably compared to the sensual experience of actually being there, but I will try my best.

The chlorophyll-smothered peaks grow firm out of the ground. Pine trees line the bodies of the mountains, the highest crannies of which still retain the pearl kisses of a snowy winter. Flecks of white bleed into glaucous rocky bodies, which in turn bleed into far vaster viridescent oceans of pine, spruce, fir and oak.

Dotted at the bottom are tiny cerulean basins, glassy underneath the great azure dome above. The vibrancy of the scene is immense, and throbs with the invisible activity of a trillion microscopic wriggles. All is still and yet all is in perpetual cyclic motion. If I could forever preserve a snapshot of life on Earth, the beauty of Sagan’s ‘Pale Blue Dot,’ it would be this. For those interested in the natural world—for me a cosmic panacea—then I highly recommend Walden by H.D. Thoreau.

The castles, however fundamentally different to the brilliant natural canvas, were almost equally as charming as their emerald and sapphire surroundings. Linderhof, though small, is immaculately carved. The cream façade is adorned with small statues; robed Greek angels and cherubs, standing elegantly underneath the central apex on which Atlas painfully and eternally hoists a grand globe into which has been carved the twelve astrological symbols.

Like Sisyphus, this Atlas is forever condemned to the torture of painful labour—but one would find it difficult to concentrate on such trivial matters in this sacred place.

Neuschwanstein is the fairy tale castle and the blueprint of the Disney palace. It sits atop a great crag overlooking the castle Hohenschwangau and village Oberammergau. From this lofty vantage point one can plainly see the navy-gray cloak worn by the surrounding mountains; objects have a habit of doing that when they are exceptionally far away.

The regal appearance of the castle is delightfully enhanced by the round towers that randomly decorate its stone skin. The winds gain unusual force this high up, and the castle exhaled onto me a royal, fresh vapour. Though it bankrupted his subjects, Ludwig II truly left something remarkable to the inheritors of the planet.

It was as though a god, from some faraway plane on the firmament, had decided to build a base of operations from which to inject beauty and benignity into the world. I urge anybody who may be considering a visit to this place to act on your consideration, for paltry words only provide an incomplete account of the real spirit of the scene.

The final limb of our journey would see us venture into Italy.

München expenses:

21st July:

• €14.61 = food + drink
• €49 = royal castles tour

• €63.50 = two nights’ accommodation

• €7.99 = 2GB SD camera card

Total = €135.10

22nd July:

• €3.90 = food + drink

Total = €3.90

The countdown, which features images of shameless students covering up their nether regions, is currently featured on the Clubs and Socs Ball Facebook page. Each day, a new nearly naked photo, branded with the number of days left until the ball, is featured as the page’s profile picture.

This slow release of photos had succeeded in creating hype around the Clubs and Socs Facebook page, and consequently, around the event. “It’s purely an attention-grabbing thing,” Steve explains. “People really want to see who’s next on the countdown.”

Since the beginning of the countdown, the page has seen a consistent increase in the number of daily visitors. Steve reasons, “When you’re looking at photos on Facebook, you’re secondarily looking for those nice photos of yourself and your friends. But what you’re really looking for is any gossip or scandal you might have missed on the night. This really taps into that.”

While other balls tend to reveal everything beforehand in order to sell tickets, the organisers of the Clubs and Socs ball have, in recent years, decided to keep most details a secret. Steve says, “The theme, the bands, and the VIPs in attendance are all kept under wraps until the very last minute. People only find out a lot of the information on the night. In some respects it does help, because some people are turned off by certain themes.”

But Steve is also aware that this might be more of a hindrance. “The secrecy means it’s very hard to sell tickets; you’ve got nothing to angle them on.” It appears getting UCC students to take their clothes off is a good way to counteract this. Steve dares to break the almost Fight Club-esque truce among the ball’s organisers to reveal, “Our VIP is an award-winning VIP.” He also divulges, “One of the bands that will be playing is the Roaring Forties.”

If you’ve been to a fair few balls already this year, or are unsure of whether or not to attend, Steve tries his best to entice you. “Clubs and Socs Ball is the ball to end all balls. It’s at the end of the year, and it’s the final hurrah for clubs and societies. Every year it gets better, and this year is absolutely no exception. We’ve made a massive amount of provision for the afters as well. There’ll be a barbecue, which those who attend the afters will be able to avail of.”

The Clubs and Societies Ball will take place on Thursday, March 10^th in Rochestown Hotel. Full tickets are €40 and will include dinner and entertainment. Afters tickets are €20. Tickets will be available to club and society committee members on March 4^th and all students soon afterwards.

My recent triumphant success in a spelling bee got me thinking about the more important things in life – grammar, spelling and punctuation. Friends, I bid you goodbye. I am about to obliterate my social status for life by openly admitting my problem to the world. The thing is, eh, well… I like good grammar. I love punctuation. I embrace correct spelling. Above all, I relish a good pun.

As my opponent’s inability to spell the word “Daiquiri” led to my victory and consequent victory dance, I wanted to call Lynn Truss, author of the infamous book Eats, Shoots and Leaves and tell her of my triumph. She of all people would have understood my excitement.

Perhaps Lynn and I are alone in fighting the grammatical cause, but I don’t care. I am unafraid to proclaim my high regard for all things grammatically correct and wordplay-related. I await the inevitable “you’re uncool” slushie in the hallways.

Here I’m hoping that an obvious Glee reference, demonstrating that I am, in fact, in some way cool, will save me from the onslaught of the aforementioned slushie. But with great grammar comes great responsibility, even if I must suffer for my noble cause.

However, a quick Google search informs me that I am not alone in my quest. A website called “I Hate Bad Grammar” exists, bearing the tagline “There? Their? They’re? Get it right dammit!” I find myself nodding in agreement.

I’m seriously beginning to be of the opinion that the internet should be abolished. There’s just no other way to control the bad grammar people use. It’s absolutely everywhere! The thought of it keeps me awake at night. And don’t even get me started on “your” and “you’re” or your going to regret it. YouTube and Facebook in particular are nothing but hotbeds of grammatically incorrect comments. They’ll just have to be shut down. It’s the only way forward.

It saddens me to find that none of the candidates running for election have mentioned the real challenge our new government will face – the disregard for grammar rampant throughout our country. A system must be put in place to ensure that no person spells or uses any word incorrectly or places any apostrophes in the wrong place’s.

See, now that was deliberate, but didn’t it just set your teeth on edge and make the hairs on your arms stand on end? According to Lynn Truss, mistakes like these should create a “ghastly private emotional process similar to the stages of bereavement.” I know I just cannot look at such disgusting and distasteful disregard for language without feeling tears well up in my eyes. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling are undoubtedly much more important than entertaining or enjoyable writing.

One should never write a sentence unless it serves some form of purpose. And as for poetry, I find its flagrant disregard for punctuation of any kind to be disgusting and frankly immoral. Like the internet, poets cannot be allowed in a syntactically correct society.

However, I do realise, at the end of the day, that there are more important things in life than grammar and punctuation. Like puns. I salute David O ‘ Doherty and Lisa Hannigan, who recently celebrated the humble pun in their Irish Times crossword special “Pun Intended”, featuring clues like “Michael J Fox goes back in time to look after his red flowering bushes” with the answer being “Back to the Fushia”.

Silly? Yes. Hilarious? Definitely! The beauty of the pun lies in its silliness. The pun may remain in my new grammatically correct society. Appreciation of wordplay must be nurtured. All other forms of wit, satire or creative writing must, however, be obliterated. They’re dangerously likely to be grammatically incorrect, misspelled and lack propor punctuation

Depression and suicide have long been smothered under the umbrella of taboos. As society opens up to issues surrounding mental health, we can look to gain a greater understanding of what it is that puts our mental health in jeopardy, what it means to celebrate individuality and how we can work towards combating the stigma surrounding such topics.

“Talk it out, let it out, sort it out”. This was the very simple yet effective slogan of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) for Mental Health Awareness week. The slogan encapsulates the way forward in Ireland’s plight for the promotion to nurture the wellbeing of its people’s mental health. Although often a difficult task, the simple act of speech may prevent fatal casualties which befall those of unsettled minds. In October 2010, the Irish Times reported that up to 60,000 people had self-harmed in Ireland in the year of 2009. In the case of almost 500, suicide was the result of such actions.

It has been reported by the World Health Organisation that one in four people will be affected by mental health issues in their lifetime. Often clouded by the prominence of depression in the field of mental disorders, others become overlooked in spite of the worst case scenario for each of them being suicide. In all cases, suicide is seen as a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, to name but a few, are all illnesses which can be medically treated and controlled. As the flagship disorder in mental health, we must be aware of depression in society. Depression amongst teens is most commonly a result of being bullied or harassed.

Discrimination, to date, remains the leading cause of depression and suicide amongst young people in Ireland. Race, sexuality, gender and beliefs are amongst the many grounds upon which discrimination stems. It is an unfortunate reality and the unavoidable truth that to be a part of a minority is to put oneself at risk of being subjected to verbal and physical abuse. A study by the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that “90% of LGBT students were harassed in the past year.” Similarly a survey carried out by Amnesty International found that “78% of the sample had experienced racism.”

In the suicide note of Steven, a 16 year old gay teen, he reported incidents where he received hate mail, was beaten up, spat on, betrayed by his best friend and called horrible names. “I will be so happy in heaven. I can just be normal like everyone else. I will not be the faggot, the queer, the fag boy, the pussy.” Upon reaching the end of his lengthy, heart-breaking letter, Steven declares “I am happy now”.

As suicide.org uses this and other such letters to share the stories of survivors, it allows insight into the mindset of those whose thoughts have become shrouded by self-pity and helplessness. As living people this letter must cry out to each and every one of us and beg of you an answer to how, in untimely death, someone can be happy.

“Baby, I was born this way” are the lyrics dominating the music charts as Lady Gaga recently released her latest in trendsetting music. Justification for what it is that makes up each of us becomes unnecessary as, in keeping with her image, she implores that we cannot help who we are and so we must embrace our own beauty. Following in the footsteps of Christina Aguilera’s instant classic ‘Beautiful’, Gaga pushes listeners’ one step closer to an ideal world. A world without discrimination, judgement, hurt and torment.

Realising who you are, is not something likely to come about in your lifetime. Fears, obsessions, desires; they are all things which lie within us all, some surfacing and others not. It can be hard to say what it is you really want. Asking yourself what your biggest fear is would mean acknowledging it and making it present in your thoughts.

Nobody wants to do that. Lock it away and throw away the key, right? It may be the easier option to walk through life without questioning such things and indeed things would all be much less complicated if we could do this. Embracing the beauty of individuality is a topic becoming more and more prevalent in society.

It is necessary in order to combat the problem of mental illnesses. In the age of celebrity, teens no longer aspire to be like the heroic figures rooted in history, rather to be like the underweight model with breast enhancements or the party-loving guy who gets all the girls. In more recent times, an acceptance of individuality has been encouraged by the emergence of such celebrities as Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert and Florence Welsh.

Each of them promotes the message that it is ok to be an individual. Such messages offer a welcome break from other celebrity messages heard in everyday life. Messages which suggest conforming to trends, to what magazines and television tell their audience.

A survey conducted by mentaline.com presented shocking results regarding one particular trend; mental illness. The survey concluded that “34% of teens admitted to lying about having a mental illness like eating disorder, depression, addiction and self-harm simply to seek adults’ attention, look cool and emulate celebrities.”

With such shocking results there has been a great awakening within people as to how ones actions can so deeply affect others. It is this awareness which needs to be fostered by the nation. Projects such as the Trevor Project, PostSecret and It Gets Better have begun to allow people to speak out, be they messages of support or confessions.

By involving some of the most influential figures in the world the message is made all the more powerful. Barack Obama tells not only the USA but the world, in conjunction with the It Gets Better project, that “your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength” and that “we’ve got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage; that it’s just some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not.”

Similarly the staff of Pixar offers their message of hope to viewers as many battle with the decision of “would I be true to myself or would I live a life of lies?” In each contribution to all projects, whether it is a celebrity or an everyday hero from the streets the message they bear is clear; define yourself as we are all stars.

It is the history of mental illness being a taboo subject which has inspired this progression into a trend. It must be met head on. “Ten people a week are taking their own lives” stated John Dolan in last Saturdays Evening Echo. Last month saw the burial of 11-year-old Ciara Doherty and 13-year-old Martin Rooney who both took their lives tragically.

This begs the question of when is it going to be ok to begin speaking openly about mental health in Ireland. As the suicide rate reaches almost double that of deaths on the road, surely these statistics call for government action. With few politicians referring to mental health within their policies, there is little hope. Similar to the creation of the new Road Safety Authority so should similar action to be taken to reduce suicide and improve mental health. Until a nationwide solution is found, we must begin to combat the issue ourselves.

In deciding to take such steps, we must first attend to the welfare of our own mental state. Realising goals, acknowledging fears and putting ourselves in positive situations allow us to do this. Following such assessment we must then simply open our awareness to those around us. Everyone is entitled to a bad day but when the Monday blues become the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday blues then we must act for the good of the sufferer.

Take note of your family and friends moods. Ask them how they’re feeling. Encourage young people to be active and pursue their dreams.Talk and listen. Handle any situation with the greatest care as you could, in your hands, be holding someone’s life.Should the problem progress then there are professional services available nationwide. Call the Samaritans on 1850 609090 or Niteline, a confidential student led programme on 1800 323242. It can be conquered. Do something today. Be the master of your own mind.

Missoula, Montana U.S.A. is not somewhere that you are likely to have heard of. Unless perhaps you are a die-hard Brad Pitt fan, and have watched every movie he has ever starred in, including the one about two brothers fly-fishing named A River Runs Through It.

It is to this town I arrived just over one month ago, charged with the task of teaching Montana University students the ‘Módh Coinníollach’; clerking at the State Federal Court; and studying at the University of Montana School of Law.

Even before I arrived, I knew that I was exceptionally lucky to be coming here with one of my closest friends; in particular one who’s sense of adventure had us shooting guns in the Rocky Mountains upon three days of arrival. I of course with my liberal democratic tendencies had certain reservations about pledging myself to the American gun culture.

My compatriot Clara’s attitude however of, ‘When in Montana, do as the Monatans do’ prevailed and we travelled into true ‘Horse Whisperer’ countryside to receive shooting lessons from one of our Irish students. I must indeed admit that as soon I held a colt in my arms, I could feel my anti – Second Amendment convictions falter.  Yet to my credit it became apparent that this family actually needed guns (albeit not 22 of them) to protect themselves from the Grizzly bears who frequent their back garden!

And if becoming an NRA sympathiser didn’t alarm my parents, tales of reggae concerts, being asked on dates at mountain summits, and road trips to Seattle with a 26 year old Turkish man certainly set off a few bells. They were set at ease however when I informed them that the University’s Irish Studies co-ordinator hails from Cork and drives a jeep which blares Christy Moore without fail.

Indeed this man has not only introduced the State to such classics as ‘Ride On’ and ‘Nancy Spain’ but has cultivated an interest in the Irish language and culture that is remarkable. To me, it is gratifying to see American students invest so much time into learning my national language, and watch it become theirs also.

Both Clara and I love our teaching experience here; abandoning the law library to cross our snow covered campus and educate classes on the significance of the Ireland v. England rugby game in Croke Park. Enda Kenny shall be getting quite a strongly worded letter any day now I can tell you; not from yours truly, but from a 21 year girl from Idaho who is horrified by his party’s Irish language policy.

You cannot help but be taken away by the Montana landscape. Driving through the state, you feel the immensity of the mountains and forests envelop you. You fantasise about becoming a mountain rancher and escaping to the wilderness. I have resigned myself however, to random hikes and ski trips, which have proved challenging enough in their own right; the slopes and me, or more specifically the chair lift and me, sharing a love-hate relationship.

When you leave Ireland, you realise what a privilege being Irish is. On a night out, once the accent is detected a shot (or two) of Jameson is forced into your hand and ultimately back your throat. Yet this generosity is typical of Missoula.

Our gun-loving friend brought us to his home for the day and baked us our very own pumpkin pie. The Irish Studies Professor introduced us to his family and allowed me to become best friends with his two-year old, Irish-speaking, River-dancing daughter. It is the atmosphere and outlook of this town that have endeared me to it.

Judge Molloy and his clerks are among the most impressive and probably the most intelligent people I have ever come across, and yet they have a distinct lack of airs or notions about themselves. Apart from Frat boys who do not take kindly to losing Beer pong championships to two clueless Irish girls, everyone here possesses a welcoming enthusiasm that has just about enabled me to overcome the minus 18 temperatures.

It is not all hiking, guns and whiskey however. It was clear from Day One of Law School that my college days would no longer be dwindled away people-watching with the girls at the window of the student centre. Instead, weekly essays on legal philosophy and international trade must be completed and posted on a blog no less, for our peers to read and scrutinise.

Lectures no longer involve scribbling down a few notes and extracting gossip from the person next to me; rather I am expected to give presentations, ask intelligent questions, and contribute my opinions to the ‘seminar’. And yet I would be lying if I said that I haven’t come to enjoy this dynamic and will probably miss it when I return home.

With hot springs, fly-fishing, Yellowstone National Park, Spring Break and Indian reservations to look forward to, my complaints at the lack of Haribo and Topshop are subsiding. Being here is a fantastic experience; the forced independence opening my mind to new outlooks, yet also offering me an insight into my own personality.

I am slowly learning that I need to become more patient with other international students who have yet to master the use of prepositions, and that it may not be justified to annihilate people who happen to make the mistake of saying that Ireland is part of the UK. Of course there are days that are less than perfect; when I miss my friends and family, break my laptop, lose my phone.

However there is no problem that cannot be solved by my housemate’s homemade cupcakes. Everyone should get the chance to study abroad; the opportunities for new experiences, meeting new people and encountering different cultures are endless. Especially in a random town named Missoula, where the attire for a college ball involves plaid shirts and where the view from your window is like stepping through C.S. Lewis’s wardrobe.

Getting on a bike for me is like flopping down on a couch after a long day’s work, or slipping into a warm bed on a freezing night.  It’s probably the only reason I come to college most days; the excuse to cycle. When I had more money than I could spend, I used to dish out E70 a month on a public transport ticket but, these days, the lack of money has ‘reduced’ me to doing something I now love.

‘Are you mad!?  Cycling 12k everyday into college!?’  What I think is mad is waiting for a bus that probably won’t come, dishing out the best part of 6 euro for it when it does arrive, and finally, completing what was supposed to be a 20 minute commute in 40 minutes.

Since I started cycling 4 years ago I’ve lost weight, saved money and become WAY more punctual [I'm still known as 'that guy that turns up 5 minutes late for class sweating and out of breath', but still, WAY more punctual!].

When I started cycling, bikes were still a bit of a niche. The only people that cycled were kids and ‘those people that wear all the tight gear and helmets and stuff’.  As a result, cycling was expensive because you were either a parent willing to pay whatever it takes to shut your child up or an enthusiast who wanted the best.

In the last 2 years in particular, cycling has become way more popular.  I used to have no problem finding a space to lock my bike up to but lately it’s becoming more and more difficult.

Budget cycling is on the rise, something that happened during the whole ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ phase, so you have places like Rothar and Cork Community Cycles, popping up in Dublin and Cork where you can buy refurbished bicycles for a fraction of the cost of a brand new one – although they do push up the price of the ‘retro’ looking bikes to about E150 – E200 just to spite us.

Cork Community Cycles is fantastic for second hand bikes but they’re only open on a Saturday, so in effect, there is no real second hand bicycle shop in Cork.

Which is where Cillian Reid and The Bike Shed fit in.  I met Cillian just over a year ago after answering an ad for a second hand bike. He was based in a garage in Wilton where he fixed and refurbished bikes. Fast forward 365 days and he has a work shop only 5 minutes from UCC that targets students who want to get from A to B faster. So far most of Cillian’s customers have been visiting students from the continent and beyond, especially Dutch, German, and Chinese students.

Irish weather.  Not as bad as you think it is. So far this year I’ve had to wear my rain-gear thrice and I refused to cycle once.  That’s 3 days out of 52 so far! Your commute is too far to cycle? Nonsense. If you live in the suburbs you have no excuse.

Getting a bus or a driving is way more time consuming; Traffic, finding a parking space, money for petrol or bus ticket, bus stop/ parking space nowhere near where you want to go.

With a bike that’s no problem, you can get a bike from Cillian for 100 yoyos, park it wherever you like, skip all the traffic, get fit, save money, look bad-ass, improve your health, become more punctual, the ladies get the men, the men get the ladies – the pros by far outweigh the cons.

The Bike Shed is aimed at students and their limited budget.  If you want a bike – go there, if you have a bike but it need to be fixed – go there.  Bikes are coming back so you might as start now so you don’t look like a dolt when everyone is pedaling rings around you.

I heard about the very unpopular Irish government and Brian Cowen, but I didn’t really try to be interested. Did you know that Ireland is one the rare European countries we French people don’t even hear spoken about?

To be honest, I didn’t even know the president’s and prime minister’s names before living here. Nor that the president was a woman, which is the kind of thing the media usually like to talk about, in order to demonstrate the evolution of sexual equality in politics.

In a comparison between Irish and French politics, I wouldn’t pretend to compare them according to their political system, because I am not a governmental expert. My matter is more focused on observing people and politicians’ states of mind in relation to these early elections in Ireland, and the next elections in France.

Talking with some of my Irish friends, I’ve realised that everybody seems to be concerned by these elections. We all know about the country’s desperate economic situation, reflecting the economic crisis cracking down all over Europe.

Therefore, Ireland needs a strong and popular government to face it. I went to Dublin in November, and there I landed up right in the middle of a demonstration against austerity policy and government. I was amazed to see how people of any ages or from any social background gathered to make the Irish government hear their voice.

I cannot help but establishing a link between these demonstrations and the early resignation of prime minister Brian Cowen, and what is currently happening in the Arab world – in Tunisia, Egypt, then now in Algeria, Libya, Bahrain or Yemen – that united wave of revolt against an oppressor government which has left its legacy.

Even if the reasons that have led to the uprising are quite different, it seems that the entire world is being indignant in these times and strongly claims respect, dignity and freedom. A funny coincidence: the French writer and resistance fighter under the Occupation Stéphane Hessel has just published a short essay entitled “Indignez-vous!”  (“Get indignant!”), a real call for the spirit of revolution. Everywhere, democracy seems to be strongly put to the test.

In France, people like demonstrating. Be it against retirement age’s raising or against mass redundancy because of enterprise’s closing, demonstrations are clearly part of our national history. But in the same time, we are witnessing something a bit strange in comparison with Irish elections. In France, no one really cares about the next elections, cantonales, which are general council elections.

After the recent displays of what democracy means and fights for freedom all over the Middle East, that behaviour, that lack of interest in elections, seems quite indecent. We won democracy, we won the right to vote for anybody (women in France were granted the right to vote in 1944), we are lucky to have the means to express ourselves and be heard. And we spoiled children waste that chance.

Last year, a 53.64 % abstention rate was recorded for the first round of regional council elections, which is a record rate for elections of that kind in France! Indeed, the only elections French people currently feel concerned about seem to be the next presidential elections, coming in 2012. But again, our chance to vote is being wasted on ridiculous and useless brawls between parties, and even inside the same party (you may have heard about the socialist party squabble).

The media can be blamed too, showing us these childish games instead of what really matters, like which issues the candidates would focus their campaign on, or what they think about what is happening in the world. As Stéphane Hessel asked us to do, I am getting indignant.

French people are probably better at protesting and criticizing against the government than at mobilizing for real change, as you did in Ireland. Why? Simply because they are too lazy and have forgotten how precious democracy really is. I hope the recent Irish example will help them to remember.

WORKING FOR OUR FUTURE – Fine Gael’s aim here is simple: create 80,000 jobs over four years, focussing on and investing in areas which have most potential for job creation, and making it easier for employers to create jobs. FG will invest €7bn in water, green energy and broadband, providing essential infrastructure, and creating jobs in the construction sector with spin-off employment in the services sector.

FG also plans to cut employers PRSI, abolish the departure tax, aiding the tourism sector and change the welfare system to encourage employment. We will reverse the cuts to the minimum wage, as it does nothing to encourage job creation and only hits the most vulnerable straight in the pocket. Up to 60,000 unemployed graduates will emigrate this year. That’s why FG plans to create a National Internship programme where unemployed graduates can gain valuable experience, while continuing their study, being paid for the job they are doing.

FIXING THE DEFICIT – Over the next four years we need to slash our budget deficit. We need to reduce it by €15 billion over this period, and we can do this in one of two ways, increasing tax, or reducing expenditure. FG will make sure cutting wasteful expenditure takes priority, and will not increase income tax.

Other areas key to FG’s plan for recovery are vital to reducing the deficit, especially reform of the public sector, reducing wastage and duplication and to ensure Government departments are run efficiently, with the relevant minister held to account if they don’t. FG will take on the big vested interests that have contributed to the current crisis, the bankers, the bondholders, the developers and the unions.

FAIRCARE – FG’s health plan means we will treat patients according to need, not how much money is in their back pocket. We are spending €17bn every year on a system that doesn’t work and needs reform. Our aim over a 10 year period is to introduce Universal Health Insurance, modelled on the Dutch system, ranked number one in Europe, despite not spending any more than we do.

This will lead to a single tier health system where all patients are treated equally, and will provide free GP care for all. FairCare will slash hospital waiting lists, free up hospital beds, introduce “Money follows the patient” budgeting for hospitals and introduce a proper system of primary care with greater emphasis on diagnosis and treatment in the community. Ireland needs a healthcare system it can be proud of. FairCare gives us that.

REINVENTING GOVERNMENT – Our public sector is too large, too expensive and inefficient. FG will improve the quality of public services, prioritising frontline services – that is teachers, health professionals, Gardaí, Local Authority services and will streamline systems, eliminating red tape, duplication and waste.

We will make managers accountable for their areas and ministers accountable for their departments. FG’s Public Sector Strategy will reduce the cost of the Public Sector by 10% over the next four years. This will save €5bn by eliminating waste and abolishing 145 quangos. We propose 30,000 administrative and bureaucratic positions can be eliminated by natural wastage, voluntary redundancy and relocation to create a better, more efficient and a more customer focused public service.

NEW POLITICS – FG has ambitious plans for rebuilding the country, but we must first start with our Government. This will be the first step towards creating the Ireland we all want.

FG’s strategy is to reduce Oireachtas members by 38%, cap their wages, as well as those of public servants, hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad and replace State cars for Ministers with a car pool system.

We will also reform the Dáil itself. We will make it more transparent and make politicians more accountable to the Dáil and to the people. We will provide a reformed Dáil that can challenge Government decisions, better local government and a Citizens assembly will be established to address major Constitutional issues.

UCC Young Fine Gael Society

We wish to use this opportunity to ask that before each of us enters the privacy of the ballot box on February 25^th, that the role of the Green Party both in Government and in Irish life more generally be given due reflection.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN GOVERNMENT – Whilst we were bitterly disappointed to see our legislation on firm action on climate change and banning corporate donations fail at the last moment due to the demise of the 30th Dáil last month, we remain proud of our record in office. Our term in Government began in 2007, when six bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Green TDs set about putting Ireland on a path to a sustainable future. Who could blame us for seizing the opportunity to advance our agenda in a tangible way in Government?

And we did. Our TDs punched well above their weight in Government, instigating a raft of reforms across a large swathe of policy areas. Amongst our proudest achievements in office include fundamental reform of planning in Ireland, which will put an end to the days of dodgy re-zonings and which will restore faith in the planning process.

We passed the historic- if imperfect- Civil Partnership Act, ensured that third level fees regime were not re-introduced, kept primary school class sizes static and ensured that Ireland’s commitments to foreign aid increases remain on track. Our cycle to work scheme has incentivised thousands of commuters to ditch their cars whilst we have made Ireland a test-bed for the advent of the electric vehicle.

We have enabled the retrofitting of thousands of homes, and trebled Ireland’s renewable energy production- pushing us to 2^nd place in Europe. As the only political party in Ireland that neither solicits nor accepts corporate ‘donations’, we are the only party who aren’t beholden to developers or any other vested interests. Every cent we spend on this campaign is clean.

THE NEED FOR GREEN – Ireland’s present economic and social crisis demands a new kind of politics. In a world where the old certainties about the steady march of economic progress have collapsed; environmental and social degradation continues to blight our nation and our planet, it is the Green movement that offers the radicalism we need.

We are the only party that understands the incontestable idea that unlimited economic growth cannot occur on a finite planet. If we continue down our present path, the environmental crises we will face in the future will make our present economic predicament look like a mere speed bump. As part of a massive international political Green movement, regardless of the outcome of this election, the Green Party will endure.

A Progressive Democrats-style meltdown will not happen and cannot happen for the simple reason that we have something they never had; a purpose that gives our existence meaning. Whilst it is the state of the Irish economy that is understandably on the lips of voters, we believe that there is a bigger picture: Two thirds of humanity remains in deep poverty, whilst the other third continues to accelerate the process of pillage, plunder and poisoning of our planet.

Our founding principles of linked and interwoven commitments to social, economic, and environmental justice worldwide are not just more relevant than ever – they have become a necessity. We leave Government chastened by the experience of power, rueful about some mistakes made, and sorrowful about the pain that so many have had to bear as a result of this prolonged economic crisis.

But we remain proud in the knowledge that in the most hostile of circumstances, we have made a positive difference to this country. We ask that when you pick up the pencil on February 25th, you remember that not all politicians and political parties are the same.

UCC Young Greens Society

ECONOMY AND PUBLIC FINANCES – The aim Fianna Fáil (FF) has had over the last three years has been to return our country to the path of sustainable economic growth in which jobs can be created and protected. The decisions we have taken have been difficult. But they have been the right decisions for our citizens. FF believes that we cannot tax ourselves out of a recession.

We believe in a fair tax system, a tax system that will help us maintain essential services, not hinder economic growth. We believe that through a two thirds reduction in public spending we can bridge the gaping hole in our public finances. The other third shall be raised through taxes, with everyone contributing according to their means, the more you earn the more you pay and no one is sheltered.

The repair of our public finances will enable us to win back the confidence of business and consumers in our economy. FF have revamped the system of banking regulation and have brought in new regulators with proven expertise to make sure that past failings will never be repeated. Every decision we have taken has been guided by the need to maintain a financial system that will serve the needs of the economy.

The EU/IMF programme for the banking system builds upon and intensifies our approach to fixing the banks. It provides the funding to restructure and recapitalise our banking system so that the banks remain safe places for deposits and can support the economic recovery by lending to creditworthy businesses and households. FF’s National Recovery Plan will build on the many positive aspects of our economy so that we can return to a sustainable growth path.

The EU/IMF Programme is based on our National Recovery Plan. The measures it contains will remove barriers to growth; boost our competitiveness; restore order to our public finances and repair our banking system so that it can serve the recovery. Our future prosperity rests upon the implementation of the Plan over the next four years. We wrote the Plan. We believe in the Plan. We are the party best placed to implement it.

A PLAN FOR JOBS – Restoring confidence for investors and consumers will have a very direct positive impact on job creation.  We will do more to help people who are unemployed and businesses who want to create jobs. The core principles which underpin our proposals to create jobs are firstly to help individuals with education and training opportunities which can get them back into employment.

Secondly to promote Ireland’s position as a world centre for high-technology enterprise by investing in the training and finally research which are vital to this objective and sustain high levels of capital investment in employment-intensive projects which boost the competitiveness of the economy. FF believes that employment can be created and sustained in sectors such as: transport, energy, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, agri-foods, and tourism.

POLITICAL REFORM – FF believes that the essential way to assist recovery and ensure future sustainability in public policy is to radically reform the procedures for choosing and operating both parliament and government. FF believes in a serious reform in the electoral system.

Moving away and going forward from the current system FF believes in a new system that retains the direct link between TDs and the communities they serve and ensures that more national considerations are also represented in the Oireachtas.

Therefore specifically we support a mixed system of single-seat constituencies elected through the system of single transferable vote and a top-up national list which will ensure proportional representation. We also support a gender balance in the National List.

IN CONCLUSION – We in FF believe we have the strongest policies and the right agenda to bring Ireland back to sustainable economic growth. We believe in strong sustainable government who are not afraid to stand up and make the difficult choices. With the people of Ireland behind us, FF believes that we can sow the seeds for a Newer, Fairer and Better Ireland.

UCC Fianna Fáil Society