BIKERS ARE VOTERS

Meetings with Ministers
Since our contacts with the incoming Ministers for Transport and for Environment to request meetings to discuss issues of
concern to MAG members, we have had an acknowledgement from the Department of Transport and Dick Roche’s Dept. of Environment
has contacted us to suggest contacting John Keenan to discuss the Motor Tax Bands issue.

Visits to TD Clinics
As part of the campaign and to raise awareness of MAG Ireland and motorcycling issues among political representatives, Local
Groups are to organise members to attend their local TDs’ clinics on a regular basis. A significant impact could be made
with only one visit per month to discuss the range of issues of concern to bikers.

Letters to TDs, County Councillors, Local and National Newspapers, etc.
Members can also help put pressure on public representatives and highlight issues of concern to motorcyclists through letter
writing as private individuals to their TDs, MEPs and County Councillors, telephoning current affairs “open forum” programmes
on local and national radio and letters to local and national newspapers.

INSURANCE

New Insurers
Three new insurers have entered the Irish motor insurance market. ARB Underwriting, Brit Insurance and Santam Europe have
all been approved to provide insurance in this country. Whilst not mentioning motorcycle insurance specifically, two of the
three companies provide insurance to “high risk” groups of motorists and so may be amenable to entering the motorcycle
insurance market.

Carole Nash Breakdown Service
We have contacted Carole Nash regarding problems members have been having when trying to use the Breakdown Service. With the
contact number being a UK number, members have found themselves running out of credit while holding for service. The Irish
office has advised us to contact the UK Quality Dept to report these problems with details of how and when the problems
occurred. To assist us in representing you on this issue, please submit details of any problems experience while using this
service to us at campaigns@magireland.org .

RIDER LICENSING, TESTING & TRAINING

Compulsory Basic Training

Linda O’Loideoin continues to represent MAG Ireland on the Working Group to discuss the introduction of Compulsory Basic
Training which the new Minister for Transport Martin Cullen says will not now be introduced until “well into” 2005.

ROAD SAFETY

Crash Barriers
This topic has been back in the news recently with the announcement that the NRA is to extend its programme of fitting crash
barriers to all future dual carriageways and motorways irrespective of median width. Currently barriers are being fitted to
roads where the central median is 15 metres or less in width. The NRA cite recent accidents where vehicles crossed into the
path of oncoming traffic and say that the fitting of barriers will contribute to road safety. MAG was contacted by the media
for a reaction and representatives of MAG were interviewed on national radio and television (Primetime and Morning Ireland).
As a result of the coverage, we have been contacted by a company who supply concrete barriers who were annoyed by the NRA’s
remarks about the safety risks to motorcyclists posed by this type of barrier.

N81
We have received replies to our recent letters regarding the ongoing problems with mud and gravel on this stretch of road
from the NRA and Kildare County Council indicating that the stretch of road involved is within the jurisdiction of Wicklow
County Council. The NRA have also contacted Wicklow County Council on this issue.

Luas
In reply to our letter indicating some concerns with the design of the barriers at the Luas stop at Bluebell/Naas Rd in terms
of possible hazards to motorcyclists, we reproduce hereunder the RPA’s response to the points raised:

1. The fence is located withing a 30mph speed restriction, which is likely to reduce the number and severity of
accidents.

2. The fence is alongside a straight length of road rather than being on or close to a bend.

3. The length of road alongside the stop has street lighting.

4. The fence at the rear of the Bluebell stop platform is some distance from the actual junction area. In the immediate
area of the junction there is standard pedestrian guardrail as used at many road junctions and as such this cannot be
considered a particular road safety hazard.

5. The fence is raised above road level so reducing the risk of collisions with it.

6. There is a margin between the kerb edge and the fence.

7. The fence has been designed by a competent designer as a part of the LRT design and build contract.

8. A Road Safety Audit by a team of independent road safety specialists did not identify this fence as a road safety
hazard.

9. Dublin City Council who are the road authority for Naas Road, and as such are responsible for road safety, have
raised no objection to this fence.

*******************************************************************

2. NATIONAL MOTORCYCLING EVENTS CALENDAR, 2004/5
MAG Ireland encourages event organisers to support motorcycling by
offering a discount of one euro to holders of current MAG membership
cards at their events.

Sun 12th December 2004 - Northern Ireland Motorcycle Action Group (Annual Toy Run) The annual MAG Toy Run in aid of the
Childrens' Ward of the Ulster Hospital. £3 per bike, £2 per pillion and a toy please with all proceeds donated at the end of
the run. Leaves the Railway Bar in Ballygowan at 12.30pm.More details from Bricky 078 7964 0599. Organisation by Belfast
District MAG and MAG Affiliated Ancestors MCC

NorthWest Hospice Run Date: Sunday, December 12, 2004 Time: 12:00PM - 6:00PM GMT
This is the 5th year that the run has been held. Last yeat we raised Euro20,000.00 and 178 bikes attended. The run is from
Sligo to Donegal town and back, approx 90 miles. All meet after in The Brewery Pub for spot prizes, food and music. For info
contact Chris Benson on 087 2304531 or chrisbenson@eircom.net.

Friday 18th February to Sunday 20th February 2005
Northern Ireland Motorcycle Show makes a welcome return to the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. Visitors will be able to see all the
new 2005 models on display as well as a wide range of other goods catering to every biker’s needs. For stand space and ticket
information contact Nutt Promotions on 028 7035 1199

The above information is correct to our knowledge and belief as we got to press but MAG Ireland cannot guarantee its
accuracy. Thanks also to Aggie for information from the Bikers Bible. Details of any additional /revised events should be
advised to the MAG office office@m... or directly to maglink@m...

MAG UK events can be seen online at the MAG UK website www.mag-
uk.org
BMF events www.bmf.co.uk



****************************************************************

3. MAG Calendar 2004

Board meetings
1st Tuesday every month, 7:30pm MAG Office, Dublin.

MAG Local Group meetings:-
MAG Donegal: 1st Tuesday of each month at 8pm, Road House Bar,
Ballybofey
MAG Dublin: 1st Tuesday of each month 8.30pm Strawberry Hall,
Lucan,
(contact Jimmy Kenny, 01 4502330)
MAG Limerick: Meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in
Gus O'Driscolls Pub, Corbally. http://maglimerick.pitas.com/
MAG Tipperary North/South Offaly. Every last Thursday of the month
at 'The Mill House', Birr Road, Roscrea. Contact Keith Leaver at
kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie

for further details.
MAG Cork: Tuesday nights in an Cruiscin Lan, on Douglas Street at
8.30pm. We are usually in the snug!
MAG Wexford - last Tuesday of every month at Ballycarney Inn,
Ballycarney, Co, Wexford, Co. Wexford from 8.30pm. A second meeting
also takes place on the 2nd

Tuesday of each month, at a venue announced at the previous
Ballycarney meeting.

E&OE. Changes should be advised to the MAG office
office@magireland.org
or Groad O'Byrne maglink@magireland.org

Publication Deadlines - RoadRunner: February 15th, May 15th. August
15th, November 15th,
Letters and articles welcome, articles with pictures very welcome.
Send submissions roadrunner@magireland.org or to RoadRunner c/o MAG
Office.

MAG Member Benefits
* A nationwide organisation representing your interests as a rider
* RoadRunner Magazine
* BikeShop Discounts, Full list in RoadRunner or on website
www.magireland.org
* Motorcycle Insurance
* Local Groups - Social Activity and Local Representation
* Information Service, (Info sheets, MAGLink and advice)
* MAG Products
* Training discounts
* Discounts on the entry fee to participating motorcyclist events
* Route Planning Service
* Discounts on VHI Health Insurance, Ferries, Accident Insurance and
Breakdown Cover.* MAG Credit Card. Competitive credit facility which
also makes a small

donation to MAG with each transaction.

The discounts alone will save you much more than the membership fee
every year.
Membership costs Euro 30 per annum, with reductions for young
riders,
partners and for payment by standing order. To join now ring the MAG
Office on (01)

4530797. Credit cards accepted.


* Events Advertising
As an additional benefit to affiliated clubs only, MAG are offering
substantial discounts to advertise their rally in Roadrunner.
Roadrunner is Ireland's

largest circulation motorcycle magazine and goes out to over 4000
Irish motorcyclists every quarter. See below for details

Club affiliation costs ?30 per annum.

Information Sheets & Reps Resource Kit MAG currently has information
sheets on:

Accidents a Legal Perspective, Anti Theft, Member Benefits, Bike
Promotion, Bike Rental, Discount Shops, Drink Driving, Driving Test,
Events Insurance, FEMA, Group Riding, Importing a Bike, Irish
Touring, Licence Regulations, Long Distance Riding, MAG History, New
Member, Ride Safely, Local Groups, European Lobbying. Training,
Motorcycle Awareness, Type Approval, MAG Structure, What is MAG,
Perception of Motorcycles as Unsafe, Consumer Rights for
Motorcyclists

MAG's Information Sheets can be found at the MAG website.

MAG also issues a computer CD which contains the reps handbooks,
info sheets, local group report template and useful forms such as
road hazard reporting and membership. There's also a very wide
selection of research and motorcycle promotion material useful when
lobbying and for background information. Copy one from your local
group or contact the MAG Office.


MAG Products
Premium T- shirts = Euro 12.70 each (Black with MAG logo)
Nectectors = Euro 12.70 each (Red or Black tubular
neckwarmers)
Baseball Caps = Euro 12.70 each (Black cloth, with MAG
logo)MAG
EIRE, RIDE FREE Patches = Euro 3.80 each
Flourescent "Do Not Remove This Helmet" sticker = Euro1.00
RIDE FREE Adhesive stickers = Euro 1.80 each
1999,2000, 2001,2002,2003 Members' Metal Badges = ? 2.56 each
2004 MAG Enamel badge = Euro 3.80 each
MAG embossed Leather Keyfob = Euro 2.56 each
MAG Fleecies - Euro 35 - heavy gauge, navy, with "MAG Ireland"
embroidered on front.
BOOKS
Motorcycle Roadcraft = Euro 17.00 each

All items are including postage by ordinary post. These exclusive
products are available from your local Group, direct from the MAG
Office, or from our MAG Products Outlet Shop, Kilkenny Camping &
Water-sports Centre, U24 The Arcade, High Street, Kilkenny. Save
postage by shopping locally.

Profits from the sale of MAG Products goes directly to campaigning
for Riders Rights.

MAG Advertising

Roadrunner is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and
is mailed directly to over 4000 Irish motorcyclists every quarter.
If you want the Irish motorcycling world to know about something
(your shop, your sale, your club, your product, your event.....)
then advertising in RoadRunner is the way to tell them.

Contact the MAG Office for details of our advertising rates.

MAG Contacts

MAG Board (Composed of elected and co-opted officers and responsible
for the day to day running of MAG)
Eoin Kirwan: Chairman, IT & Transport: 087 6166207 Mailto: chair@magireland.org
Linda O'Loideoin: Treasurer, Roadrunner Editor mailto:roadrunner@magireland.org
Gearóid O Byrne: Local Groups Liaison & MAGlink mailto:maglink@magireland.org
David French: European Liaison, Safety Officer mailto:davidfrench@magireland.org

National Council and Local MAG Group Contact Details
The National Council (NC) is composed of elected county
representatives and responsible for the overall running of MAG.
Unless a county position of "NC representative" is elected, the
county chairperson is on the NC.

MAG County Groups

MAG Donegal
Chair: Marty Boyle 087 - 6557414 martyboyle@unison.ie
or magdonegal@yahoo.com
Or Michael McNulty mnulty@mcmenaminsteel.com

MAG Dublin
Chair: Jimmy Kenny 01 - 4502330

MAG Limerick
Secretary - Alec Quinn. ajquinn@eircom.net
Treasurer - Mark Hackett. haket@hotmail.com
NC Rep - Vinny White. vwhite@eircom.net
PRO - Sharon Curtin. yamxv250@hotmail.com
Clubs liason officer - Karl Murphy. crashtestdummy@oceanfree.net
Local Authority liason officer - John Mullin.

MAG North Tipperary and South Offaly
Paul O'Dwyer 086-2686091 froggieod@yahoo.com
Keith Lever kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie

MAG Cork
Chair - Ger Donnolly
Treasurer - Martin O'Driscoll martdris@gofree.indigo.ie

MAG Wexford
Chair - Martin Sills 087 - 6628595
Treasurer - Mick Rice sago@oceanfree.net


Unelected local representatives invited to National Council meetings
by MAG Board - Leitrim - Christine Cann christinecann@eircom.net

The remaining counties are currently not represented on the National
Council. If you are interested in assisting, either as volunteering
as a local representative or in relation to founding a MAG Group in your area,
please contact the MAG Office or the Local Group Liaison Gearóid
O'Byrne at maglink@magireland.org


MAG Office
1b Ring Terrace, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Tel: 01 453 0797
Fax: 01 453 3643
Karen Kiely: National Campaigns Officer - 086 8632444
roadrunner@magireland.org
Liz Keane Office Assistant office@magireland.org


Before ringing the MAG office please consider if it wouldn't be
better ringing your MAG representative, the DOE Driver Testing
Section, your local motorcycle dealer or the Yellow Pages first. The
MAG Office will help with your queries where possible but doing so
reduces the time available to administer MAG for everyone's benefit.

Website: www.magireland.org
Webmaster: Joe Lennon webmaster@magireland.org


4. Disclaimer

MAGLink is provided free of charge as a service to motorcycling in
Ireland. MAG Ireland cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any
errors or omissions. MAGLink end NOvember 2004, compiled by Groad O Byrne
maglink@magireland.org.
(c) Copyright : MAG Ireland