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More urgency demanded to end library dispute

Monday, 19 April 2010

MARINO taxpayers are being “ripped off” by the continued closure of their local library, according to a public representative.  Clontarf ward councillor Naoise Ó Muirí (FG) has reiterated his call for Dublin City Council and the public sector trade unions to take immediate action to re-open Marino Library to the public. The library has been shut for three months as staff are taking part in a work-to-rule industrial dispute. Cllr Ó Muirí believes this action is seriously harming the local community who must be given access to their library. “It is an utter disgrace that the public library has had closed doors since January 25,” he told Northside People. “I have received many complaints from unhappy residents wondering when their public library will re-open. “Parents whose children have been unable to use the facility, especially over the Easter break, are especially concerned.” Cllr Ó Muirí said many of his constituents are asking when the library will re-open. “Every citizen of this country is aware that the future growth of our economy will be reliant on an educated and highly literate population,” he added. “How can we deny the children of Marino the basic fundamentals of that education by withdrawing public library services? “At the same time, the older population of this area who have contributed to the nation all their working lives are being denied a social outlet.” Cllr Ó Muirí is pleading with Dublin City Council, unions and other bodies involved to resolve the matter. He said the public service trade unions must now issue a statement outlining the reasoning behind the complete withdrawal of service. “Dublin City Council must also publish a statement on its website confirming that the facility is closed until further notice,” he stated. “Dublin City Council and the trade unions must engage urgently in a meaningful process with a short-term timeline that will result in the service being restored. “There seems to be no evidence of any endeavour being made to prioritise this crisis.” When contacted by Northside People, Dublin City Council confirmed that Marino Library was the only one of its libraries closed due to industrial action.  "Resolution does not lie with any public sector organisation,” a spokesperson for the city council said.  “The only negotiations with the potential to resolve the matter are those between Government and trade unions at national level.” An IMPACT spokesperson confirmed that members were instructed not to engage in work that they had been doing on a voluntary or “goodwill” basis and this had led to the closure.