As well as his regular Dáil Diary published the The Wexford Echo, Mick occasionally contributes opinion and blog pieces to newspapers and websites in areas such as foreign affairs, arts & culture, and social issues. See below for links to some of his most recent contributions.

The Irish Times (September 23rd, 2011)

Along with twenty-five other members of the Oireachtas and one MEP, Mick put his name to a Letter to the Editor in the Irish Times calling on the government to let the Irish people have a say – by way of referendum – on the proposals to establish a permanent Eurozone fund (called the European Stability Mechanism) by Treaty amendments that will be binding on Ireland. Click here to read the letter in full, or see below for an extract.

“Sir, – The Government in the coming months will seek to push through the Oireachtas an amendment to one of the two treaties on which the EU is based authorising the establishment of a permanent euro zone fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), and the ratification of the treaty between the 17 states that are members of the euro zone to actually establish the fund.

The treaty, which has already been signed but not yet ratified, commits the Irish State to “irrevocably and unconditionally” contribute €11 billion in various forms of capital to the ESM when it is established in 2013 and possibly further sums after that at the behest of euro zone finance ministers when contributions come up for regular review. This will have to be borrowed on the international market…” 

The New Theatre, Temple Bar (September 5th, 2011)

Mick’s company,Wallace Construction, built the current New Theatre in partnership with Connolly Books, architect George Morris, and The New Theatre. The state of the art venue opened in February 2007, coinciding with the theatre’s ten-year anniversary. Here, Mick recounts his experience of working on the project and explains why the venue is one of Dublin’s hidden treaures.

“The ‘New Theatre’ is a hidden treasure in Dublin’s Temple Bar, built at the rear of the Connolly Book store on Essex Street. The building, the last surviving in the city of a ‘Dutch Billy’ design, is rich in history and is one of the oldest structures on the south side of the river with its original walls, floor beams, roof rafters and stairwell, dating back to 1760. It has served many purposes over the years – was once a Sowing factory, a former tenement, Sir John Rogerson stayed there and at one time it housed the Society for the Propagation of the Protestant Faith in Ireland. In 1975, it became the property of the Communist Party of Ireland who established their headquarters there under the leadership of Michael O’Riordan.

 The original New Theatre was a make-shift affair with a galvanized roof, attached to the back of the main building which first served as a meeting room before being turned into a theatre in the early 90s. Then, as now, it served as a venue supporting an abundance of emerging new talent in the city and country, and in particular, productions with a strong social dimension. It gave an opening to many artists that might not otherwise have seen the light of day. Much of this talent may have gone unnoticed in the mad Celtic Tiger days but it never went away…”

European Anti Poverty Network Ireland (July 27th, 2011)

Mick recently contributed a piece to the EAPN Ireland blog on the development of a more social Europe. See below for an extract or click here to read the article in full.

“With a population of 4.6 million and a GDP of €150 billion, Ireland is a relatively small player in Europe (the EuroZone countries alone have a combined population of 330 million and a GDP of €9,200bn), so it can be difficult for us to make our voice heard – however, it is important that we play our part and as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee of European Union Affairs. I hope to make a constructive contribution by scrutinising legislation and proposals emanating from the EU as well as making sure the government is held to account in its dealings with Europe.

Today, one in five people in the European Union is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and 40 million people are living in a condition of severe deprivation. Although the media discourse about Europe is primarily concerned with banks and bondholders, the devastating social consequences (felt across Europe) of bowing to the interests of financial institutions and private speculators is what makes the financial crisis a reality for ordinary European citizens. Cuts to social welfare, education, and health in conjunction with tax increases and rising unemployment are the hallmarks of a European response to the crisis that is not only failing but making things worse. Here at home almost 100,000 children live in consistent poverty and nearly 230,000 live in relative poverty. Despite these shocking figures, the Fine Gael/Labour coalition is committed to implementing the policies of its predecessor which specifically target those who are already vulnerable. In education the cuts coming into effect in September 2011 will have a devastating impact on children with special needs and learning difficulties, Traveller pupils and the children of non-nationals as well as having a knock-on effect across the education system.…” 

The Irish Times (June 30th, 2011)

As Freedom Flotilla II gathered in the Mediterranean with the intention of breaking the Israeli siege on Gaza and deliver supplies to the 1.5 million Palestinians living there, Mick wrote an opinion piece for the Irish Times explaining why he supports the flotilla. To read the piece in full click here.

“THE IRISH-flagged MV Saoirse is part of the Freedom Flotilla, and it carries many decent and caring people. It is joining about nine other boats in the eastern Mediterranean this week, carrying passengers such as American writer Alice Walker and Hedy Epstein, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, toward the shores of Gaza.

The Saoirse, remember, is sovereign Irish territory. And the reason it is sailing in international waters toward Gaza is not to provoke another Israeli attack. It is to challenge the illegal and immoral grip that Israel continues to use to choke a territory it supposedly withdrew from in 2005.

Israel, which claims to no longer occupy Gaza, has no right to treat its people as inmates in what has become the world’s largest open-air prison. Palestinians, like everyone else, are entitled to unimpeded access to international waters and airspace, in conformity with international law and UN resolutions.

A UN report published in March 2011 said the Israeli blockade, which began in 2007, triggered “a protracted human dignity crisis”. Close to 80 per cent of the population rely on international aid to survive; 65 per cent live below the poverty line; 52 per cent are food insecure; nearly 40 per cent are unemployed; and about 70 per cent of nine-month-old babies are anaemic…”

The Irish Times (June 10th, 2011)

As 55,550 students across the country began their Leaving Certificate exams, Mick wished them well and reflected on his own experience of the exams. Read the piece in full here.

 “IT WAS a few years ago, but I remember there was a huge amount of pressure doing my Leaving. It wasn’t a happy time for me and I was glad to get away. I’m not in touch with anyone from my class any more. I didn’t enjoy it particularly, and I was glad to get out and into the world.

I hadn’t a clue. I was 17 and went hitchhiking in America. It gave me a chance to think. I didn’t go to university until I was 19. I did history, English and philosophy in UCD, but I didn’t go there for job preparation, I went to get an education.

I went away so I would learn something. I was heading for South America but I went to North America first to earn the money to do it.

I enjoyed college a lot; I liked third level. I thought the whole nature of the curriculum at second level left a lot to be desired. Things haven’t changed much since I was there.

A big problem at second level is that we should be preparing people for life. The whole emphasis in education has gone astray. The Greeks invented education to teach us about ourselves – the world we live in and the people we live with…”