2014-11-02

Dublin City Council in Ireland violates internationally recognised human rights and contradict Ireland’s national constitution. Dublin City Council declines the fundamental human right to freely distribute Christian literature in public. The Dublin City Council administration appeared to believe that refusal to communicate would solve the Dublin City Council unlawful praxis.

(http://dublincity.ie)

Dublin City Council praxis of its bye laws (Bye Laws for the Prevention and Control of Litter as adopted by City Council Oct. 2008) violates not only the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but Dublin City Council praxis also violates the Constitution of Ireland.

Dublin City Council officials modified a previous decision of absolute ban on Christian literature distribution “I am of the view it would cause significant litter and therefore cannot grant a permit in accordance with the Bye-laws.” to conditionally accommodate religious literature distribution “If Torsten Nenzén decided to distribute a booklet instead of a leaflet […]”. Thereby, instead of its former decision of an absolute ban, the Dublin City Council modified its absolute ban and imposed an unlawful restriction.

The Dublin City Council has no legal right to forbid distribution of Christian literature regardless of printed format. Dublin City Council restriction on the format of literature is a violation of the fundamental human rights within Ireland. It is not the duty of a municipal government and administration to decide neither the content nor the format of Christian literature to be distributed in public; the entire Bible, a booklet, a leaflet or a credit-card-sized tract.

The Dublin City Council legislature contradicts Ireland’s constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through its municipal by-laws; possibly coupled with an anti-Christian bias of Council administration praxis.

·        Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://www.kyrkor.be/Universal-Declaration-of-Human-Rights.pdf

·        European Convention on Human Rights: http://www.kyrkor.be/European-Convention-on-Human-Rights.pdf

·        Constitution of Ireland: http://www.kyrkor.be/Constitution-of-Ireland.pdf

·        Dublin Bye Laws for the Prevention and Control of Litter as adopted by City Council Oct. 2008: http://www.kyrkor.be/Bye-Laws_for_the_Prevention_and_Control_of_Litter_as_adopted_by_City_Council_Oct_%2708.pdf

Christian literature distribution is immediately rejected by the Dublin City Council administration, while distribution of anti-Israel (anti-Semitic) leaflets (on a specifically prohibited pedestrian street) appeared to be perfectly fine.

Photos depicting various public campaigns (utilising public space) in central Dublin the past weeks:

1.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Boycott-Israeli-Goods-leaflet-distribution-Henry-Street.jpg

2.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Boycott-Israeli-Goods-literature-distribution-Henry-Street.jpg

3.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Boycott-Israeli-Goods-petition.jpg

4.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Boycott-Israel-Now-demonstration.jpg

5.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Fortune-Teller-hinder-on-pedestrian-street.jpg

6.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Fortune-Teller-runaway-from-camera.jpg

7.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Fortune-Teller-swears-profanity-at-cameraman.jpg,

8.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-free-gaza-and-free-abortion.jpg

9.      http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Free-Gaza-campaign.jpg

10.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Free-Gaza-sticker-campaign.jpg

11.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Legalize-Cannabis-propaganda.jpg

12.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Mammon-church-pastormelissascott.com.jpg

13.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-palestinecampaign.org-Boycott-Israel.jpg

14.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-pseudo-Christ-Witnesses.jpg

15.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-safe-abortion-pills.jpg

16.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Sinn-Fein-End-Israeli-Apartheid.jpg

17.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Sinn-Fein-Free-Palestine.jpg

18.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Sinn-Fein-terrorism-supporters-against-Israel.jpg

19.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Ireland-solidarity-against-Israel-campaign-ipsc.ie.jpg

20.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Ireland-solidarity-against-Israel-ipsc.ie.jpg

21.   http://www.nenzen.net/Dublin-Anti-Israel-Gig-for-Gaza-amnesty.ie.jpg

The email dialogue with is read chronologically from the bottom upwards beneath, with the most recent email at the top. The dialogues with Dublin City Council is then succeeded by a dialogue with Irish Human Rights Commission:

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29 October 2014

by e-mail

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

Our Ref: 14-414/Q

Re: Your application to the Commission for assistance in connection with legal proceedings under section 10 of the Human Rights Commission Act, 2000

Dear Mr Nenzén,

I refer to our previous correspondence, to our telephone conversation of 30 September 2014 and to your subsequent e-mails, including that of 7 October 2014 in which you applied to the Commission for assistance in connection with legal proceedings under section 10 of the Human Rights Commission Act, 2000.

You will be aware that applications for assistance under section 10 of the Act concern legal proceedings where law or practice relating to the protection of human rights are raised and that certain conditions attach to applications for assistance.

In this regard, please find attached the Commission’s Information Note Regarding Requests for an Enquiry and Applications for Assistance in Connection with Legal Proceedings, which provides guidance to persons in respect of applications for assistance, a copy of sections 8 to 10 of the Act and a copy of the Commission’s Guidelines for Dealing with Requests under Section 9(1)(b) and Applications under Section 10 of the Human Rights Commission Act, 2000, which outlines how the Commission decides on whether to grant assistance.

In order to assist the Commission in understanding your application for assistance, I would be obliged if you could clarify a number of preliminary matters:

·        Please clarify the human rights principles which you feel are raised in the legal proceedings to which you application for assistance relates;

·        Please specify the precise nature and subject matter of the legal proceedings to which your application for assistance refers (please provide a copy of any relevant correspondence or documentation including any relevant Court orders relating to the matter);

·        Please specify the outcome you are seeking;

·        Please advise whether you have a solicitor working for you.

I draw your attention to the provisions of section 10(3) of the Act which provide that the Commission will not grant assistance if, in its opinion, the assistance sought could be obtained by the person under the civil or criminal legal aid schemes or by any other means.

Please note that while the Commission is considering your application for assistance, it will not be responsible for any deadlines relating to either legal proceedings you wish to institute or legal proceedings you have already instituted. It is your responsibility to ensure that any such deadlines are met.

I look forward to hearing from you further. Please feel free to contact me at (01) 858 9601 should you wish to discuss the contents of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Gerry Finn

Enquiry & Legal Officer

Gerry Finn, Enquiry & Legal Officer, Irish Human Rights Commission, 4th Floor, Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1, 01 8589601, info@ihrc.ie

Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

Hello.

One week ago, IHRC received a reminding email requesting that IHRC should confirm that (1) you understand that I seek legal assistance, and (2) that you understand the very important principles behind my application to IHRC.

IHRC chose to not confirm, and you appear to refuse to communicate.

Therefore, in stead of confirming that you understand the important principle of fundamental and universal human rights also for Biblical Christians, you have subsequently confirmed the opposite: that corruption, anti-Christian bias and anti-Zionism is widespread and harmonises all across Ireland. It seems that hostility against God is a common practice in Ireland; not only by Irish church governance, Irish municipal governance and Irish national governance, but also by the Irish Human Rights Commission.

If this case in stead had pertained to discrimination and unlawfulness against anti-Israel/pro-palestine terrorists, or against pro-homosexuality activists, then I am confident that the IHRC would have made the case a top priority.

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

torsten@nenzen.net

IHRC.

Hello.

Irish IHRC have yet of course neither confirmed that (1) you understand that I seek legal assistance, and (2) that you understand the very important principles behind my application to IHRC. In fact, IHRC have since my telephone call to IHRC not communicated at all.

The conduct of Irish IHRC, so far, aligns well with the Irish corruption in general.

Please reply.

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

torsten@nenzen.net

Dear Mr Nenzen,

I refer to your complaint to this Office concerning the failure of Dublin County Council, to respond to your email's of 29 August 2014 and 3 September, 2014.

I note the Council issued a response to you today by email, as this Office was dealing with the non reply aspect of your complaint and the Council have now responded I will be closing this complaint.

I am glad this Office could be of assistance to you.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Culhane

Enquiries Section

Dear Mr Nenzen,

I refer to your recent correspondence and discussions with Ms Bernie Lillis from the Litter Prevention Office concerning your request to distribute leaflet material in Dublin City.

In order to bring some finality to the situation I wish to convey a final position on the matter in my role as Appointed Person for the purpose of the Litter Bye-Laws.

The City Council has a strict policy which prohibits any distribution of any leaflets in the City and cites the following section of the Litter Prevention Bye-Laws in support.

3.1 A permit shall not be granted for the following classes of advertising material (a) leaflets or (b) any material which in the opinion of an appointed person is likely to cause significant litter pollution.

I wish to reiterate that there are no other factors considered apart from the class of material.

Hugh Coughlan

Administrative Officer

Dublin City Council

Environment & Transportation Department

Block 1, Floor 6,

Civic Offices, Dublin 8.

tel +353 1 222 2022  fax +353 1 222 2323

Email : hugh.coughlan@dublincity.ie

IHRC

Mr. Gerry Finn

I called you on your telephone number 3 minutes ago and we spoke for approximately 5 minutes.

The impression you gave to me on the telephone was that you had not read any of the information already sent to you. I read out to you on the phone what I sought to achieve from the Irish IHRC, to which you seemed quite clueless.

I read to you on the phone: "As a very imortant principle, I believe that the conduct and the Dublin Council By-laws need to officially recognise these fundamental human rights. No Christian in Dublin should be officially unrecognised to hold these public rights. These rights need to be officially recognised, and thus, the Dublin City Council must acknowledge these rights (and "repent" from its current refusal to acknowledge these rights and refusal to communicate further)."

You then responded that I was of course welcome to request legal assistance, if that is what I wanted, but that such a request had not yet been put forward to IHRC. You also informed that a file could be created. I then replied to you that I would sent an email to you within the next five minutes requesting legal assistance.

The general impression in speaking with you is that you seemed to have not understood anything that has previously been communicated to Irish IHRC, and that you seemed uninterested in dealing with the issue.

So, for formality's sake: I seek legal assistance.

Kindly reply that you have understood that I seek legal assistance, and that you understand the very important principles behind my application to IHRC.

Regards,

Torsten Nenzen

IHRC.

Dear Mr. Gerry Finn,

I might drop into the Jervis House later this afternoon to say hello to you. Tomorrow I will be in the UK for a bit, so if I am unable to see you today, then I intend to call you on the phone number provided by you later on this week or the next.

As a very important principle, I believe that the conduct and the Dublin Council By-laws need to officially recognise these fundamental human rights. No Christian in Dublin should be officially unrecognised to hold these public rights. These rights need to be officially recognised, and thus, the Dublin City Council must acknowledge these rights (and "repent" from its current refusal to acknowledge these rights and refusal to communicate further).

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

30 September 2014

By e-mail

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

Our Ref: 14-414

Re: Your e-mail to the Commission

Dear Mr Nenzén,

Further to your recent e-mails, in which you state that “Dublin City Council has declined the dissemination of Christian information to people in public space within Dublin” please feel free to contact me on (01) 8589601 to discuss your concerns. At the outset, I do apologise for the delay in reverting to you, which is due to a backlog of communications to the Commission.

In the interim and for your general information, the Commission’s Information Note Regarding Requests for an Enquiry and Applications for Assistance in Connection with Legal Proceedings is available on our website (www.ihrc.ie).

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Gerry Finn

Enquiry & Legal Officer

Gerry Finn, Enquiry & Legal Officer, Irish Human Rights Commission, 4th Floor, Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1, 01 8589601, info@ihrc.ie

Dublin City Council.

To whom it may concern at Dublin City Council,

Dublin City Council administration is refusing to communicate, and is refusing to acknowledge the legal right for Christian leaflet distribution in public in Dublin.

Twelve days ago on Wednesday September 3 2014, Dublin City Council received a reminding letter regarding an inquiry if Dublin City Council administration intended to discontinue using its Council Bye Laws as a means for anti-Christian discrimination in Dublin, and a request that Dublin City Council administration would retract from its ban (and its latter unlawful condition), and that Dublin City Council instead would officially acknowledge the right and freedom for Christian literature distribution in public in Dublin.

Seventeen days ago on Friday August 29 2014, Dublin City Council received a similar letter inquiring if Dublin City Council administration would officially acknowledge a co-operative “permit” for me to share information about Jesus Christ on the streets in Dublin. Dublin City Council administration refused to reply and communicate.

May I please ask that Dublin City Council would communicate that it (1) retracts from its anti-Christian praxis of absolute prohibition of Christian literature distribution in public, and that Dublin City Council (2) retracts from its unlawful condition regarding format of Christian literature distribution in public.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

+46 707 77 77 54

Dublin City Council.

To whom it may concern at Dublin City Council,

Six days ago on Wednesday September 3 2014, Dublin City Council received a reminding letter regarding an inquiry if Dublin City Council intended to discontinue using its Council Bye Laws as a means for anti-Christian discrimination in Dublin, and a request that Dublin City Council would retract from its ban (and its latter unlawful condition), and that Dublin City Council instead would officially acknowledge the right and freedom for Christian literature distribution in public in Dublin.

Dublin City Council administration refused to reply and communicate.

Eleven days ago on Friday August 29 2014, Dublin City Council received a similar letter inquiring if Dublin City Council would officially acknowledge a co-operative “permit” for me to share information about Jesus Christ on the streets in Dublin.

Dublin City Council administration refused to reply and communicate.

May I please ask that Dublin City Council would communicate that it (1) retracts from its anti-Christian praxis of absolute prohibition of Christian literature distribution in public, and that Dublin City Council (2) retracts from its unlawful condition regarding format of Christian literature distribution in public.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

+46 707 77 77 54

Dear [name of a councillor],

Thank-you for replying to my email regarding Dublin City Council unlawful prohibition of distribution of Christian literature in public. In practice, I shall of course ignore Dublin City Council. In regards to principle and the law, I cannot ignore the Dublin City Council administration, and nothing less than an official approval by the Dublin City Council administration will suffice.

Thanks, [name of a councillor], for supporting the principle of democratic and fundamental human rights of all members of society.

Because the Dublin City Council administration is refusing communication, I will continue shortly with another inquiry to their office.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hi Torsten,

My advice to you is that you shouldn't have asked permission in the first place. There are regular political and religious street stalls in the city centre of Dublin including on the roads names. I'm regularly on political stalls myself giving out literature so I recommend you go ahead. I don't agree with your religious message but I support your right to express it on the streets.

Kind regards

[name of a councillor]

Dublin City Council.

To whom it may concern at Dublin City Council,

Five days ago on Friday August 29, Dublin City Council received a letter inquiring if Dublin City Council intended to discontinue using its Council Bye Laws as a means for anti-Christian discrimination in Dublin, and requesting that Dublin City Council would officially acknowledge a co-operative “permit” for me to share information about Jesus Christ on the streets in Dublin.

Dublin City Council has yet not provided a decision in regards to this inquiry.

May I please ask that Dublin City Council informs me of a final decision in this issue.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

+46 707 77 77 54

Dublin City Council.

Dear Dublin City elected Councillors,

The praxis of anti-Christian discrimination by the Dublin City Council administration requires a change.

Dublin City Council praxis of its bye laws (Bye Laws for the Prevention and Control of Litter as adopted by City Council Oct. 2008) violates not only the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but Dublin City Council praxis also violates the Constitution of Ireland. As such a serious violation is practiced routinely by the Dublin City Council, I must request that Dublin City Council retracts its positional decision to decline my application of a permit with an unlawful condition in place. In fact, a permit should not be required at all for distribution of religious material in public.

In recognition that the Dublin City Council official Bernie Lillis (bernie.lillis@dublincity.ie) now has modified the previous decision “I am of the view it would cause significant litter and therefore cannot grant a permit in accordance with the Bye-laws.” to conditionally accommodate my request for religious literature distribution “If Torsten Nenzén decided to distribute a booklet instead of a leaflet and provided he submitted a detailed Litter Management Plan, then Dublin City Council would consider the application. As the nature of the material he wishes to distribute is not commercial, there would be no charge.”, the Dublin City Council has instead of its former absolute ban modified the decision with two conditions; of which one of the imposed conditions is unlawful.

The Dublin City Council has no legal right to forbid distribution of Christian literature regardless of printed format. Dublin City Council restrictions on the format of literature is a violation of the fundamental human rights within Ireland. It is not the duty of Dublin City Council to decide neither the content nor the format of Christian literature to be distributed; the entire Bible, booklets, leaflets or business card sized tracts. Dublin City Council must fully retract from this unlawfully imposed condition.

However, the second condition regarding litter management is a reasonable request and is probably legally justifiable; that a distributor shall be responsible for ensuring that a literature distribution does not cause issues of litter. I have guaranteed to Dublin City Council that there will be no permanent litter on the ground; (1) through my immediate pick-up of any inappropriately discarded card within my visibility, (2) through hourly (every 60 minutes) scouring the extended vicinity of the distribution location, and (3) through daily conclusion with a thorough pick-up-walk (I propose 300 meters in all direction) along the neighbouring streets.

Yesterday (Aug.28. 2014), I spoke with local Christian residents here in Dublin, who informed me that the Dublin City Council denial of my declared intention (application) to hand out Christian literature to the public is not an isolated incident. Therefore, if it would be necessary to seek justice from a court of law, I now do have sufficient witnesses to attest that Dublin City Council routinely declines distribution of Christian literature and Christian witnesses on the streets of Dublin. It appears as obvious that Dublin City Council in fact is enacting a praxis of restricting fundamental freedoms and legal rights of Christians’ sharing of information about the Biblical person Jesus Christ in public in Dublin.

I ask that Dublin City Council discontinues using its Council Bye Laws as a means for anti-Christian discrimination in Dublin. And I therefore request that Dublin City Council officially acknowledges a co-operative “permit” for me to share information about Jesus Christ on the streets in Dublin.

People in Dublin should deserve fair municipal administration and governance.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

+46 707 77 77 54

--------------------------------

CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND

(BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN)

(Enacted by the People 1st July 1937 and Amended 27 June 2012)

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred, We, the people of Éire, Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation, And seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations, Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, PERSONAL RIGHTS

ARTICLE 40

4 1 No citizen shall be deprived of his personal liberty save in accordance with law.

6 1 The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to public order and morality: – i The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions.

RELIGION

ARTICLE 44

1 The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.

2 1 Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen.

2 The State guarantees not to endow any religion.

3 The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20 

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

--------------------------------

Dear [name of a councillor],

Thanks for your good initiative to move the issue forward. One of the two new conditions imposed by Bernie Lillis is unlawful.

Also, I discovered yesterday while speaking with local Christian residents here in Dublin that this anti-Christian discrimination is not an isolated incident, but is indeed a praxis. This anti-Christian praxis must end. I will send a second letter to the Dublin City Council with request of change shortly.

Very best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Hi Tornsten.

I have written to the officials and Bernie Lillis (bernie.lillis@dublincity.ie) replied with the following advice...

If Torsten Nenzén decided to distribute a booklet instead of a leaflet and provided he submitted a detailed Litter Management Plan, then Dublin City Council would consider the application. As the nature of the material he wishes to distribute is not commercial, there would be no charge.

I hope that this is of some use...

All the best,

[name of a councillor]

Dear Mr Nenzen,

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your email, the contents of which have been noted.

Contact information for all Dublin City Councillors is available on the Dublin City Council Website.

Kind regards

Mary

Council is meeting next on Monday. However this is an Executive function - not one for the elected members.

Dear [name of a councillor],

Thanks for a quick reply.

Would you know when the Councillors will meet next?

Would you be able to advise me how to quickly proceed in a constructive way, as to attain a formal permission by Dublin City Council?

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Thank you for your message. There is no anti-Christian bias in Dublin City Council that I am aware of. Unfortunately there is no Protocol Committee meeting in August.

[name of a councillor]

Dublin City Council.

Dear Dublin City elected Councillors,

On Aug.21, 2014 I inquired with Dublin City Council about utilising some of the sidewalk public spaces within central Dublin to respectfully offer written information about the Biblical person Jesus Christ. In the inquiry to Dublin City Council I had also guaranteed that there will be no permanent litter on the ground; (1) through my immediate pick-up of any inappropriately discarded card within my visibility, (2) through hourly scouring the vicinity of the location, and (3) through conclusion with a thorough walk along the neighbouring streets to pick up any inappropriately discarded card.

In spite of my guarantee that there will be no real issue of litter resulting from the offering of written information about Jesus Christ within public space, Dublin City Council staffs denied my request to inform people about Jesus Christ by blatantly disregarding the obvious fact that there will be no real issue of litter. Dublin City Council staff wrote: “I am of the view it would cause significant litter and therefore cannot grant a permit in accordance with the Bye-laws.”

From the Dublin City Council staff total disregard of guarantee of conduct in relation to any inappropriately discarded Christian tract, it would appear as though Dublin City Council might be endorsing an anti-Christian praxis through a corrupted administration.

If the Dublin City Council prohibits the freedom to peacefully inform the public about the Biblical person Jesus Christ in writing within public space, does such a restriction not violate any of the articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

On Aug.22, 2014 I informed Dublin City Council that I would like to see a democratic and transparent process in regards to the possibly disguised ant-Christian praxis of the Council staffs, through a full council voted decision. I asked when the council convenes. The Dublin City Council administrative staffs refused to reply, which further indicates an anti-Christian praxis through corrupt administration.

From what I can glean from the Dublin City Council website, the full council gathers on the first Monday of the month, and a Protocol Committee gathers on the preceding Thursday (tomorrow Aug.28). Based on the information which is attainable on your website, I restate that I want the Dublin City Councillors to either immediately overturn the decision made by Dublin City Council administration, or to vote next Monday regarding my sought permission to inform people in Dublin, in writing, about the Biblical person Jesus Christ.

Attached, again, is a jpg copy of the written information intended for people in Dublin, a copy of the filled application, and a jpg copy of the NIC identity of the person taking full responsibility for ensuring that there will be no real issue of litter on the streets of Dublin.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén

torsten@nenzen.net

+46 707 77 77 54

Dublin City Council.

Dear Bernie Lillis,

Thanks for a speedy reply.

Dublin City council has stated “I am of the view it would cause significant litter and therefore cannot grant a permit in accordance with the Bye-laws.”

As an immediate assessment of Dublin City Council decision, it appears that Dublin City Council is actively discriminating against Christianity. It appears that Dublin City Council is enacting an anti-Christian praxis.

If the Dublin City Council prohibits the freedom to peacefully inform the public about the Biblical person Jesus Christ in writing within public space, does such a restriction not violate any of the articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

I have already declared that there will be no issue of litter, since I will regularly pick up any visible inappropriately discarded leaflet, and also conclude by scouring also the neighbouring streets for any inappropriately discarded leaflet. Therefore, the Dublin City Council is blatantly disregarding the obvious fact that there will be no litter, and the Dublin City Council is only implementing its anti-Christian sentiment to prevent people in Dublin from attaining correct information about Jesus Christ in public.

1. I want to challenge the decision of Dublin City Council by Bernie Lillis, and have a full council democratic voted decision. When does the council body convene next to vote in this matter?

2. Is Dublin City Council prepared to defend its decision at the European Court of Human Rights?

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

Dear Torsten

Your email regarding a permit to distribute leaflets in Dublin City has been forwarded to me for my attention.

The Bye-Laws for the Prevention & Control of Litter (part 3) in the main, deal with merchandising/sampling of commercial materials.

Section 3.5 of the Bye-Laws state:

A permit shall not be granted for the following classes of advertising material (a) leaflets or (b) material which in the opinion of an appointed person is likely to cause significant litter.

Having viewed the material you submitted in your application for a permit, I am of the view it would cause significant litter and therefore cannot grant a permit in accordance with the Bye-laws.

Please also note Section 3.6 states:

A permit shall not be granted for distribution of advertising material in Grafton St, Henry Street or O’Connell Street.

Any person found distributing material on any of the above streets, will receive a fine of €75 in accordance with the Bye-laws and where litter is found as a result of the activity a fine of €150 will be issued under the Litter Pollution Acts.

Kind regards

Bernie

Bernie Lillis, Litter Prevention Officer, Dublin City Council, Waste Managerment Services,

68/70 Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8.  Tel. ++353 1 222 4243, Mob. ++353 86 606 0012,

email bernie.lillis@dublincity.ie

Dublin City Council.

Dear Simon Brock,

Thanks for a speedy reply with a copy of the bye laws of Dublin City Council.

To my preliminary understanding from the bye laws, a permit/licence from Dublin City Council is not required, since the material intended for distribution is not defined as an “Advertising Material”. Please confirm this understanding.

Regardless of legal requirement of a permit, I do seek a good cooperation with Dublin City Council and the public, and therefore attach in this email a copy of the material intended for distribution, a copy of my National Identity Card, and a completed “application” so that Dublin City Council at least has the information that is sought.

I will do regular (hourly) checks on the ground to pick up any inappropriately discarded card from the nearby ground, and I will conclude each day with a thorough walk in neighbouring streets to pick up any inappropriately discarded card from the grounds. At the conclusion of each day, there should therefore be no issue of litter resulting from my respectful distribution of non-commercial information about the Biblical person Jesus Christ.

In the bye-laws are mentioned a couple of streets that may require a special permit. How can I apply to obtain a permit for distribution for those particular streets? Do you possibly have a map where these special-restriction areas/streets are exactly marked out? Can you please send a link to such a map, or attach a map in an email?

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzen

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1.1 “Advertising Material” means anything being distributed free of charge which is deemed by the Council to be distributed for commercial purposes or for the purpose of promoting an event or the sale, consumption or use of any products, goods or services and shall include the free distribution of any food or drink product.

3.1 It shall be an offence, to distribute any advertising material for commercial purposes except in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-Laws.

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Dear Torsten,

The distribution of leaflets by hand within Dublin is prohibited without first obtaining a permit to do so. Please see the attached bye laws for your information regarding this. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Regards,

Simon Brock

Simon Brock | A / Senior Staff Officer | Public Domain Unit |

Central Area | Dublin City Council | 51 –53 Sean Mac Dermott Street Lower | Dublin 1

Tel: 00353 (0)1 2225315 | M: 0871326037 | F: 00353 (0)1 2223172

E: simon.brock@dublincity.ie

Good afternoon,

We are emailing you from the Customer Services Centre in Dublin City Council. We have forwarded your email to the Litter Office.

They will respond to your query as soon as possible.

Regards,

Amy

Go raibh maith agat as ucht teagmháil le hAonad na Seirbhísí Custaiméirí de chuid Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath. Fuaireamar do ríomhphost agus déanfaimid ár ndícheall freagra a sheoladh chugat taobh istigh de dhá lá oibre.

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Dublin City Council.

To whom it may concern,

I am considering visiting Dublin to respectfully offer written information about the Biblically described person Jesus Christ through leaflet distribution to pedestrians on sidewalks in Dublin in September 2014.

Am I required by law or any council decision to apply for a permit/license to distribute leaflets promoting the Christian faith, standing on public sidewalks in Dublin? Are there particular areas of Dublin with restrictions for person-to-person distribution of tracts promoting the Christian faith?

I would use no infrastructure, and no PA system, and no shouting. I would stand in one position, roaming within of a maximum 2-meters radius (depending on people density at location), respectfully handing out flyers (cards) to people that pass by along the location of public property. In personal conversations with members of the public I would answer questions about Biblical Christianity which individuals might ask, and I would pray together with those individuals who request from me that I pray with them.

If a permit/license is required by any government authority for distribution of Christian information in the public, then please inform me of where to download an application form, and the email contact to whom I should send the application.

There would be no obstruction to pedestrians or traffic. I ensure there is no permanent litter on the ground by regularly picking up any inappropriately discarded card within my visibility, and by concluding with a thorough walk along neighbouring streets to pick up eventually any inappropriately discarded card.

Please inform me of any requirements that I would need to know.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Torsten Nenzén