I do realise, having tried in vain to have Irish Rail comply with the requirements of the workplace smoking ban (as ever, Irish Rail can accuse me of lying if it wishes to state that it is complying, a quick count of the cigarette butts in the enclosed sections of Heuston Station, as well as the regular sight of Irish Rail staff so smoking there, will confirm non compliance), that Irish Rail acts as though the law is this alien concept, there only to be used against the citizens of this State who dare to turn up on what Irish Rail sees as its "private property" and demand to use the service that it reluctantly provides (Irish Rail sees its role as running trains, not providing a service). Above all, the thought that any provision of law might bind or restrict Irish Rail is not one that can be entertained.
Accordingly, perhaps now is a good time to quote Article 6 of the Irish Constitution:
"All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good".
The specific sections of this Article I wish to concentrate on are 'All powers of government, legislative, executive (i.e. Irish Rail) …derive…from the people (i.e., us)" and 'to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good'. It is my opinion, that Irish Rail has long since ceased to be in "the requirements of the common good" and the specific incident which has prompted me to commence this campaign is this.
In Heuston Station, Irish Rail have erected a posted demanding courtesy towards their staff. In other words, when we screw up, you will accept this situation and not complain. Anyone so complaining will have our byelaws jackbooted down their throat. Let me play devils advocate here. You approach the customer service desk in Heuston Station and demand to speak to John Lane, stationmaster, as the designated official for reporting breaches of the workplace smoking ban. My personal experience of doing this is that the staff on duty there tell you that it is not their responsibility. If you, the law abiding member of the public, protest this State body's refusal to comply with the law, they will use their bye laws and security goons against you. (I can visually identify one of the two staff on duty who refused to comply with implementation of the workplace smoking ban if Irish Rail care to arrange an ID parade for disciplinary purposes, just line 'em up the next time a meet the flunkie session is taking place and I'll happy carry out the task. As court cases take place in public (per Article 34.1 of the Constitution), I will happily apply the underlying principle that justice should take place in public to such a process).
And so to how to protest at this welcome overstayed organisation. Any verbal action displaying annoyance will not be tolerated (the notice in Heuston Station made this clear), therefore, in light of the fact that no democracy is perfect, the ideal form of words to protest against this bullying, imcompetent monolith is "Democracy Now". Utter this phrase after every interaction with an Irish Rail employee. They will get the message, eventually.
Last modified: 28th January 2006