Yearly Archives: 2016

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New master of the Rotunda Hospital, Professor Fergal Malone

Of course you are.

Gareth Naughton writes:

“In his first major TV interview since taking over as master at one of the nation’s biggest maternity hospitals, Prof Fergal Malone will be joining Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show this Friday to discuss the challenges faced by medics and their patients in an increasingly under pressure health service.”

“We’ll hear his views on how the Irish health system is failing women, from those whose cancers may be missed as a result of treatment delays to the pregnant women who must travel abroad if they want to terminate unviable pregnancies, and what can be done to fix it.”

Related: Rotunda master’s comments on abortion criticised (Catherine Shanahan, Irish Examiner)

Yesterday: Climate Of Fear

The Late Late Show

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Ellen O’Malley Dunlop announcing her resignation as CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre this afternoon and her intention to seek a seat in the Seanad.

Previously: Rape Crisis? What Rape Crisis?

Via Ellen O’Malley Dunlop

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Alison O’Connor, columnist with The Irish Examiner on Prime Time last night

Last night RTÉ’s Prime Time looked at the forthcoming general election.

During the programme, Irish Examiner columnist Alison O’Connor said:

“Well, if variety is your kind of thing, this election is going to be for you. I think we’re going to see a real all-sorts Dáil, following this election. But that could feed into, possibly, an unstable situation.”

“The last few years has seen a phenomenal rise in the hard left. The way that they’ve tapped into people’s upset at the Government’s austerity policies, the way they’ve managed to bring people, tens of thousands of people out onto the street to protest. But I think, equally surprising really has been how they’ve failed to capitalise on that. There isn’t a sense that there’s going to be massive gains in the general election.”

Meanwhile, also last night…

 

Watch last night’s Prime Time in full here

Previously: The Squiggle Of Doom

Beware Of Pundits Crying Chaos

On A Right Wing And A Prayer

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Homeless charity You’re Not Alone distributing food and drinks in Dublin last night

You’re Not Alone writes:

“[Last night] we looked after 158 of our homeless friends. It was bitterly cold but at least it was not raining we had seven new volunteers so far this week which is great to see as, even with the weather getting bad, the number of people wanting to help is still increasing. A big thanks to everybody who helps and supports us – as without you all, we really would not be able to help the homeless as much as we do”

Previously: Feeding Our Friends

You’re Not Alone (Facebook)


Irish golfing great, Christy O’Connor Jnr. has died aged 67.

Lightning couldn’t hit a two iron like he could.

Any excuse.

Golf legend Christy O’Connor Jnr passes away in Spain, aged just 67 (Irish Independent)

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A press release published by the Department of Social Protection last night and a tweet by the Irish Refugee Council

Last night the Department of Social Protection officially announced – and published a press release – that the weekly allowance for children seeking asylum is to be raised by €6 from €9.60 to €15.60.

This has already been reported.

However, in addition to the increase benefitting young asylees – who are in the process of seeking refugee protection – the department also said that the increase will also benefit “those coming to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and the UNHCR-led Resettlement Programme.”

It’s understood that the people who are being relocated to Ireland under this programme – such as the group of Syrians who were brought to Clonea Strand Hotel near Dungarvan before Christmas –  have been predetermined as refugees by the UNHCR.

And once a person is recognised as a refugee in Ireland, they are entitled to apply for social welfare payments on the same basis as an Irish citizen.

Anyone?

Government announces increase to the direct provision allowance for children (Welfare.ie)

Previously: Institutionalised

A Wintry Welcome

The Institutionalisation Of 1,818 Children

Thanks Subpri.me

UPDATE:

In response to the increase…

Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance and member of the Working Group on the Protection Process, says: “As a member of the Working Group, I was deeply upset to witness first-hand the poverty that children in direct provision must endure. This increase – which will barely cover the cost of a bottle of Calpol – can only be seen as a gesture of goodwill. Our welcome is given with a strict proviso that the full increase to their payment be secured in the short-term.”

June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy at Barnardos, says, “While any increase is a move in the right direction, it is difficult to see the justification for such a paltry increase – less than a third of what the working group recommended and still far short of what they need. The direct provision system is no place for children and this increase will do precious little to change that. It must be abolished.”

Grainia Long, CEO of ISPCC, says, “ISPCC staff have worked with families in Direct Provision and seen the hardship caused by the inadequate level of financial support. We’ve heard from mothers trying to save an extra egg to bake a birthday cake for a child, and from children who have never known anything other than basic conditions in institutional settings. The modest increase from ministers is welcome, but it falls short of what children need, and will ultimately mean that children in Direct Provision remain woefully unsupported by the Irish state in 2016.”