Re: Strasbourg trip
Dear Jerry/Karina,
Sorry for the delay in giving the details of my trip to Strasbourg.
I will cut it as short as possible, but first can I thank you for your kind donation. The trip started at the arrival to Dublin Airport at 4am on the 4th September 2005.
I arrived at Strasbourg Airport at 1.50pm. Went to pick my own wheelchair to find it had gone missing. It was eventually found at 2.30 pm. Next thing to do was pick up my suitcase. The same again, but it took over 1 hour to find.
A taxi was called by the staff of the airport which I felt very helpful. Going along in the taxi, I glanced at the clock and it read, 49 euros. I took out my mobile and asked the driver how I could ring the local police. He stopped his taxi and I gave him the address of the Hostel that I was going to, as I already had given it to him at the airport. So he eventually got to my destination but I refused to give him any more than 30 euros. Others who used taxis to get to the hostel were ripped off.
On Monday evening the 5th Sept. a barbeque was organised and people from England, Denmark, Holland and France came. It was on the hostel grounds which provided a bar. The delegate from Norway which consisted of 16 people wheelchair bound came in 2 specially adapted buses which could cater for 8 in each bus. The bus had bunk beds, a specially adapted kitchen and toilet. They had a specially designed tee shirt with a logo of a person in a wheelchair holding a torch and the word "Freedom" on it and gave one to everyone. This way we were going with as one group. Their thinking was right, but it is a pity they could not think the same about the Gas? Amongst the singers was a lad from the Falls road in Belfast who plays in a band. The craic was good and we all though it was the start of a good Campaign.
Tuesday 6th Sept. was the first day of our Campaign as it was the day that was arrange to meet and put questions to them. We were versed on the questions to be asked and who would ask them. Jim Mitchell, MEP had arranged our perspective MEPs between 4pm and 6pm. In other words we would be meeting MEPs from Connaught. Brian Crowley and Simon Coveney from Cork also attended as there was no representatives from their county. This meeting was arranged to take place in the staff canteen and when we got there we had to move all the tables and chairs and the meeting took place in a room not big enough to hold 1 group never mind 4 groups.
As they met us the majority of them shook our hands, but informed us that they could not give us much time despite been informed well in advance. Now this did not go down well with us as we had travelled along way to meet them. We did think that we would be at the very least offered a cup of tea only to be informed that there was a visitors café on the third floor. This was done by Simon Covney They let themselves and their country down very, very badly. Before going to the café we spent a while in the viewing gallery of the Parliament Buildings which was not very interesting as we were positioned at the very back and in a poor position. We just waited for one question and it was asked by I think Jim Nickelson, an MEP from Ulster. He was asking a question about the Colombia three and how they got passports.
Wednesday 7th was a long day as it was the day we marched to Parliament Buildings. As we were staying in a Hostel about 10 miles on the west side of the city, we had an early start despite bad heads from drink. A tram to our destination at 9am. Luis you have lot to learn. Met up with other participants at the University Hospital which was approximately 2 miles from the Parliament Buildings. We got a police escort to our destination shouting "What do we want? Justice! When! Now" in English and French. This was followed by songs including an odd Rebel song.
We got to the Parliament at 12.30.Interviews were carried out with the press and Norway had their own T.V. crew. They interviewed reps. from all Countries. We expected the Irish Media to come out and talk to us but we were to read after coming home including papers from Clare, Galway and Sligo that Marian Harkin had given her version of our visit. We broke up at about 1.30. We broke up in groups. Three girls, Donal Toolin from Ballyhaunis, and myself went together across the road to a market. It was large and is held every year and goes on for 10 days. One can get anything and I mean anything from a needle to a rolls Royce or how to build a house from the footings and how to dig them?
We were interested in a meal and a drink as it was very, very warm. While deciding what café to eat in we were approached by a lady from who introduced herself as a Civil Service from Donegal. She was employed as a teacher who taught kids with a disability whose parents worked for MEP’s. She treated us to a meal and 2 drinks each. We were very thankful to her and thinking now as I write to you none of us got her address because I would like to have written to her and thank her. After telling her how we were treated by our respectative MEP’s, she spoke to us about all the perks they get while spending 3 days every month in Strasbourg. All I can say is shame on ye all except Barbara De Braun who was filling in for Mary Loo McDonald. 10 out of 10 for De Braun as she took 5 wheelchair users that got lost looking for a toilet into her Office to use her own toilet.
Back to Parliament Buildings at 3pm. The meeting was at 5pm with the Disability Intergroup which was chaired by Richard Howitt, an English MEP, as they hold the Presidency for 6 months and it takes a while for all to get through all the security. Following a speech from the Chairman who thanked everyone who made the long trip to get here he gave us the go ahead to put our questions to our respectative MEP’s.
By the way some of us who were lucky enough to be in the very front spaces got the choice of a cup of tea or coffee. By now I wondered would we have to pay for it as it was the first and only thing we got for nothing while visiting the Buildings. Been a massive building and having to put a question to our MEP’s who were at this stage behind us I thought that I would be nervous but I wasn’t as this was thanks to the way they treated us the previous day. One of our members from Ireland who was not on the agenda to ask a question, put up his hand to ask a question. The question was: If the Greek Tycoons, or the Saudi Arabian Oil Sheiks attended a meeting with the Irish MEP’s, would the meeting be held in the staff canteen. There were red faces in the house. Jim Higgins who had came and signed the book and left again missed that. As Gay Mitchell was the one who arranged the meeting he was in a panic because the chairperson knew he wanted to say something and he left him until the last 30 seconds to apologise which was at this time too late. Oh, by the way Ms. Harkin nearly got a red card for waffling when she got a minute to talk. Every MEP that spoke got 1 minute. Even on Tuesday when questions were put to her she said "I will try and answer the questions put to me" Thanks MEP’s. Now I know why ye could not properly answer the question? Do ye represent the people of Ireland or is it a graveyard for failed Politicions?
Jerry, despite the setbacks and all, we the Irish group created a bit of history as when after the Chairperson closed the meeting 5 or 6 girls tore into a verse of the song "We shall overcome". The 600 or so other MEP;s gave the girls a standing ovation. The Chairperson got the last word by saying, you are the first people that were ever allowed to sing in the Parliament Buildings and said that one never knows what next from you. You deserve having the stage, as you conducted your protest in a very sociable manner and it is a credit to one and all of you and wished us good luck in our campaign. Campaigners 1 Irish MEP’s 0.
It was time to leave and as the building was totally inaccessible, by this I mean there were no signs for disabled toilets and every door had the sign EXIT but it was only leading to another room. The lifts could only fit 2 small wheelchair or 1 big one. There was no brail but we were informed about this before we made the journey out. It was a problem as one could not make arrangements to meet someone in the city.
Anyhow we stayed together the few of us that went for a meal. By now as it was Wednesday evening and we had to make a decision. Would we go back to the hostel to watch the soccer match on T.V. We decided to stay in the city and have a meal. As we were eating outside one of the girls paid a visit to the toilet which was inside. When she came out she informed us that Brian Crowley was inside watching the match.
I asked her to go in and ask him as I was outside how did he get in. Was there a side entrance or some place wheelchair accessible as the front door had 3 deep steps. She came out with a red face and said that he told her that he came in the front door. Anyhow I got a few lads to lift me into the pub and proceeded to go over to where Brian was. As I had to get pass him I asked him to move a little so that I could get by. He was entertaining 2 girls with Dublin accents with Champagne and felt that he did not have to move I informed him that we were just 2 equal people, so he moved back just enough room to let me pass.
A member of the staff kindly moved the table and chairs and asked us if we were ok. By now a second bottle of Champagne on ice was brought out to Brian and his friends, he was drinking coffee. My friends were getting exited as they thought they were going to be treated with a drink from a Representative from the Irish Government. They were in for a shock as what a donkey would do, he turned his back to us. There were 3 others inside watching the march on a large screen but I could not get in. They were Ms Harkin, Sean O’Neachtain and Eoin Ryan. Apparently when the girls were visiting the toilet they get a negative response from them. At least we always we were not on our own as we had our friends back at base. Even Ireland lost we were still upset because as we were about to leave, Brian whom I was in the next bed when I had my accident in 1981 turned to me and said "Tom, I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay". I took a deep breath and controlled my temper which was at a boiling stage.
Thursday was a visit to the European Court of Human Rights. It was not as what I was expecting. We were not allowed into the courts, but a representative from Ireland met us and gave us a talk on what goes on inside. On the previous Tuesday a woman from Dublin had taken the Irish Government to Court there and that would have been interesting. Still very warm and it was time to get our duty free as we were informed that things were a lot cheaper than at the Airports. I must say that meals and drink and bottles of water were cheaper than in Ireland, but a mobile call from Ireland cost 59 cents, yet I was billed 3 .30 euros.
The party started at about 9pm. The bar opened at the same time and some of the helpers had purchased take-always and salads and bottles of wine and again members from other countries came, but yet the topic that was on almost everyone’s mind was the treatment we got from our MEP’s. But at around 1 am it was the least of our troubles as the bar was about to close. Went to bed at 2am.
Got up at 3.45am, yes as I had arranged for the same taxi to take me to the airport and the check in time was 4.45am. Got on the plane and left at 6.15am and arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport at 7.55am. They refused to give my own wheelchair, yet I got it on the way out. I had to sit on a 12 inch hard chair with no sides or footrests for over 2 hours and was left holding on to a bar. I had to ask some American people whom I recognised by their accents to get me a drink of water. The names I called to members of the airport staff who would pass and ignore me could not be repeated in a Convent. Now and again one would come and say "you alright"and walk away. When I got on the plane I thought that all my problems would be over. I was put on the plane at the back, but when it landed at a wet Dublin Airport passengers including myself had to be taken off at the front. When it came to take me off with their narrow chair it was discovered that the chair was not able to get down the isle to me.
They panicked and called for the pilot but his brains only allowed him to drive the plane. I informed them that I would have to be lifted over the seats by 4 strong men. I was eventually lifted out to my wheelchair that was at the tunnel entrance, but F--K me wasn’t the sides of the chair missing. They searched where the chair was in the plane and no sign. Then I was brought to a place to fill out an accident report. This took over 1 and a half hours. I got a porter to pick up my luggage and lead me to the nearest bar. When my brother came to pick me up he could not understand why I was nearly drunk? When I eventually got home I discovered that I had a scar on the side of my left foot and my right big toe was burst. I went into a spasm when they were lifting me over the seats on the plane. At the moment I am getting them pressed 2 times per week. As I have poor healing it will take some time to heal. I sent text messages to the family that I have returned from the war and the scars to prove it. They didn’t know what I was on about.
But anyhow, I have to thank you for your kind contribution towards the trip. Would I do it again? Yes but not without a P.A. It was a huge task to take on my own and put it to others before I left that we have 2 years to plan and get funds to bring out its members properly. As we put it to our MEP’s that what we want was 5% of the Structural Funds and got a commitment from Mr Howitt and will keep demonstrating every 2 years until we achieve our target. There was a record of everything that was done and said and it up to them to fulfil their promises, but as one of the lads said to me they must be very intelligent or not interesting because they did not take down many notes.
I know you will want the list of Mep’s. So okay, here they are:
Brian Crowley, Simon Covney, Eoin Ryan, Liam Aylward, Marian Harkin, Sean O Neachtain, Jim Higgins, Gay Mitchell, Princious De Rossa, Kathy Sinnott, Barbara De Braun, Muiread McGuiness and finally Avril Doyle, who stole the show. The good woman approached a man from the Dublin Group. He was about 75 years old. She gave him a blue biro and said, tell your mammy and daddy that you got this from me, Avril. Well he took the biro and fired it over his head and I caught it. I have it here as a souvenir. There was one missing but as far as we were concerned the whole 15 could have been missing.
Brian Crowley, MEP, spoke on MW Radio last week about 1million euros spent on bringing people out to the European Buildings, yet 2 of my local Reps. said that they could not find any funds to give me for my trip. The next time I will be ready for them if they are still there.
There is enough there for a book?
Karina: The e-mail address for any information or literature on access or building regulations. Contact: E-ail eoheriliy@nda.ie
PS. Sorry, we did get something. We got a bag which contained a blue doll, a blue biro, a blue pencil, a blue cap, a blue sponge shaped like a heart, a ruler 28 cm long, a small note pad for notes or messages, a small book about the size of a stamp containing about 100 pages about "My fundamental rights in the European Union", which is very handy, but as I have big hands, I will have a problem reading it. Theses were sponsored by Dublin Bus, and after all the toys they put in a bottle opener?????. What’s my favourite colour.
Tom.