MAGLink, January 2003

A monthly update from the Irish Motorcyclists Action Group.
The progress reported below in promoting and protecting motorcycling has been possible because of your support.

MAG Ireland : Representing Riders

1. Campaign Updates
2. MAG Calendar
3. National Events Calendar
4. MAG Benefits
5. MAG Products
6. MAG Advertising
7. MAG Contacts
7. Disclaimer

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Campaign Updates
Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Eoin Kirwan and Gearóid O'Byrne attended a meeting of the Dublin City Council Traffic and Transportation Strategic Planning Committee on the 5th of December 2002. As the first local authority in the State to have introduced a voluntary test scheme of daytime running ;lights on all vehicles, this gave us a welcome opportunity to outline our position in relation to the potential dangers posed to motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists by all vehicles using DRLs. A member of the cycling lobby was also present and supported our stance. We outlined our reservations about the scheme, especially in light of the European Commission's decision not to recommend same to member countries for the present until further research had been carried out. We brought examples of the posters from Mag Austria showing how a motorbike with lights on could be made invisible in front of a car with lights on and discussed the Scandanavian experience of DRLs. The Committee indicated that they were awaiting a report from Trinity College on their recent voluntary campaign in this regard, and would contact us again when this was received. They indicated it would be some months yet before they expected to receive the same.

National Safety Council
A meeting was held on the 16th of January 2003 between MAG Ireland and Mr. Pat Costello, Chief Executive Officer of the National Safety Council and his staff to explore areas of mutual concern. This meeting was at their invitation and we believe same resulted from our recent meeting with Minister Seamus Brennan, at which, among other matters, we discussed a MAG representative being appointed to the National Safety Councilto represent the interests of motorcyclists. The NSC expressed concern at the proportinally high rate of motorcycle accidents and fatalities. Whilst we agreed that motorcyclists were overrepresented in fatality statistics, we suggested that the relatively stable figures for those killed or seriously injured had to be viewed in the context of a dramatic increase nationally in the numbers of registered powered two wheelers (PTWs) on Irish roads in the past decade. They wish to run a media safety campaign involving radio ads which we agreed to assist with, and also will fund a leaflet to be issues with all motor tax renewal forms, one side to be directed at motorcyclists and the other at car drivers, to try particularly to increase awareness amongst car drivers of the need to watch out for motorcyclists. In particular they suggested a merging of their bike safety publication "This Is Your Bike"and our safety booklet "The Right Way" as they have funding for same and the ability to have same distributed to all motorcyclists. As we need funding for a revision of "The Right Way", we have agreed to explore this with them.

VAT on Helmets
As previously mentioned, Olivia Mitchell, T.D. recently raised a Parliamentary Question asking Minister McCreevy if he will consider reducing the rate of VAT chargeable on motorcycle helmets. Once again, the Minister insisted that it is out of his hands and that he has no interest in requesting that helmets or other motorcycle safety equipment be added to the list of items subject to a reduced rate of VAT. However we disagree that he has no role in the matter and are trying to get the European Commission to furnish us with a letter indicating that the Commission would consider an application from the Irish Government seeking a derogation from VAT on helmets.

MAG Calendar
Board meetings
1st Wednesday every month, 7:30pm MAG Office, Dublin.
National Council meetings
1st March 2003 - 1.00pm Shannonside Schoolhouse Hostel, St. Brigid's Road, Portumna,
Co. Galway - Dates of subsequent meetings in 2003 to be decided there.
Watch the MAG website www.magireland.org for further details.

MAG Local Group meetings
MAG Carlow: 3rd Tuesday of the month, Sherrif O'Hara's, Brown St. Carlow.

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 Dublin: 3rd Tuesday of each month 8.30pm Four Provinces, Ranelagh,
(contact Mark Newman 086 847 2746. mnewman@tramway.ie)

MAG Kildare: Last Wednesday of the month, The Railway Bar, Eyre Street, Newbridge

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.

E&OE. Changes should be advised to the MAG office office@magireland.org or Gearoid O'Byrne at 087-2607747, 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.

National Events Calendar, 2003
See http://www.magireland.org/events.htm
FOR FREE LISTING OF YOUR EVENT SEND IN DETAILS ASAP.
MAG UK events can be seen online at the MAG UK website www.mag-uk.org.
BMF events www.bmf.co.uk

* 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

MAG Benefits
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 € 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.

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
ZIPPO lighters = € 25.40 (Brass with MAG LOGO) LAST FEW LEFT!!!!
Premium T- shirts = € 12.70 each (Black with MAG logo)
Nectectors = € 12.70 each (Red or Black tubular neckwarmers)
Baseball Caps = € 12.70 each (Black cloth, with MAG logo)
MAG EIRE, RIDE FREE Patches = € 3.80 each
Flourescent "Do Not Remove This Helmet" sticker = €1.00
RIDE FREE Adhesive stickers = € 1.80 each
1999,2000, 2001,2002 Members' Metal Badges = € 2.56 each
2003 Saffron (?!) Green Enamel badge = € 3.80 each
MAG embossed Leather Keyfob = € 2.56 each
BOOKS
Motorcycle Roadcraft = € 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 officers and responsible for the day to day running of MAG)
Eoin Kirwan: Chairman, IT Officer, Transport: 087 6166207 mailto:chair@magireland.org
Linda O'Loideoin: Treasurer, Roadrunner Editor mailto:roadrunner@magireland.org
Jimmy Kenny: Product and Process Officer 01 4502330
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 Carlow:
Chair: Eric Geaney (086-3091138) eric.geaney@oceanfree.net
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 (South Dublin contact Mark Newman 086 8472746)
MAG Kildare
Chair: Dave Keeley 087 2692180 davkee@esatclear.ie
Secretary: BJ Martin 086 4006279 thedok@cyberdude.com
thedok@bastardbrothers.org
Treasurer: Joe Kerwin
Events Secretary: Ivor Hemmingway 086 8150410
MAG Limerick
Chairman - Don Moloney. moz@iol.ie 086-8123858
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
Local Representatives invited by MAG Board
Leitrim
Christine Cann christinecann@eircom.net
Longford
Pat & Debbie mbike@eircom.net
Louth
Lenny McManus leonard@netscape.com

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 & Clubs Liaison Gearoid O'Byrne at 087-2607747, 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.

Cash for MAG Recruiters
Bank Standing orders are by far the easiest way for MAG members to pay their subscription. They are also much cheaper and quicker for the MAG office to process. MAG is now passing these savings onto its members. As well as offering three months free membership for members who take out a standing order, MAG has decided to introduce a "fiver back" promotion - any MAG member who gets a friend to sign up for a standing order will get a fiver (€6.35) back in cash.

This means that if all the members of a club of twenty people decide to support MAG with bank standing orders and name their treasurer as recruiter then the club will receive one hundred pounds (128 Euro) from MAG.

Full details, conditions and bank standing order forms are available from the MAG office.

Disclaimer
MAGLink is provided free of charge as a service to motorcycling.
MAG Ireland cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions