Yearly Archives: 2019

Minister for Health Simon Harris; Senator Mary Alice Higgins in the Seanad this morning; Section 20 of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019

This morning, in the Seanad…

Minister for Health Simon Harris presented the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019 after it passed all stages in the Dail last night.

This is the legislation that will underpin the setting up of a tribunal for women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.

In her contribution, Independent Senator Mary Alice Higgins said that while the tribunal should be set up as soon as possible – she has some “key concerns and questions”.

In respect of one of these concerns, Ms Higgins said the legislation should ensure that cases be heard in public – in respect of the women who wish for their cases to be heard in public.

She said:

“We often talk about the concern for privacy in Ireland but we can sometimes be excessive and we can ask: which privacy are we seeking?

“Is it State embarrassment we are seeking to avoid or is it privacy?

“So, Section 20 says that the tribunal shall conduct its hearings ‘otherwise than in public’ which, I presume, means “in private”. And then it says except for ‘Where a claimant requests the tribunal to hold a hearing or part of a hearing in public and the tribunal agrees that it would be appropriate to do so…’

“This is my concern. If there is any situation where a claimant says ‘I wish this case, I wish my hearing to be in public or part of it to be in public’, we shouldn’t be in a situation where the tribunal is going to deny them that right.

“And the right to have their case heard in public. That is a concern for me minister. I would hope that you would be able to assure me that the tribunal will never be intending to deny women the right to have their story told in public. But perhaps you can assure me on that?

“Because currently the legislation, I see, does allow for the tribunal to deny a request from a complainant to have their story told in public.”

Ms Higgins said she may potentially table an amendment to the bill so as to ensure women will be able to have their case heard in public if they so wish – and irrespective of the view of the tribunal.

Watch back here (from 29.20)

Farmers protesting outside Leinster House yesterday

Related: Fianna Fáil to support Sinn Féin motion to reject Mercosur deal (Newstalk)

Yesterday: Wellington Waterloo

Rollingnews

The foyer of ‘Swuite’ student accommodation in Grangegorman, Dublin 7 (top)

Ah here.

This afternoon.

Lower Grangegorman, Arran Quay, Dublin 7

Paul Flynn writes

I really didn’t think I could despise the new, expensive student accommodation near me, which is displacing local families and raising average rents, even more.

Coming from the North I find this presentation of the island of Ireland  (above) to our domestic and visiting student body to be unrepresentative, divisive and just downright partitionist, especially in the face of Brexit.

The complex is called Swuite (I know, I see what they did there) but their grasp on spelling doesn’t stop there.

Arranmore Island is now called Aran Island. Loungh Neagh, Monagham, Lacis instead of Laois, Aram Island off Galway. Dougarvan, the river Suit instead of Suir. Give me strength!!

Swuite

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan in the Dáil last night extended redress for those who worked in the Magdalene Laundries but were not residents

Last night in the Dáil, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan presented the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2019.

He explained that the purpose of the bill was to amend the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 – to ensure women who would have worked at Magdalene Laundries but lived in adjoining institutions, as opposed to the laundries themselves, can receive compensation via the Magdalene Restorative Justice ex gratia scheme which was set up in 2013.

The bill is also designed to ensure that awards received by the women won’t be taken into account when assessments are made for their nursing home supports.

The move follows Ombudsman Peter Tyndall who published a report in November 2017 called Opportunity Lost – An Investigation by the Ombudsman into the administration of the Magdalene Restorative Justice Scheme, in which he criticised the Department of Justice for its administration of the scheme and it’s exclusion of the women who worked at the laundries.

Mr Flanagan told the Dáil:

“The purpose of this amending Bill, which is short and technical in nature, is to apply these same health benefits to those women who qualify under the November 2018 addendum to the Magdalene redress scheme.”

However, he also said:

“There were three other recommendations of the Ombudsman. These relate, first, to assistance to applicants who lack capacity to accept an award and second, to a review of those cases where there is a dispute in respect of length of stay in a Magdalen institution.

“A senior counsel was appointed to carry out both these tasks.

“All but one of the capacity cases have now been resolved and the review in relation to the length of stay issue is ongoing.

“The third recommendation by the Ombudsman was that guidance should be provided for future redress schemes.

“A working group led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is examining this issue.

“Officials in my Department have kept the Ombudsman informed of progress in relation to the implementation of his recommendations and last month I met the Ombudsman, who acknowledged the progress that has been made, to date, in implementing his recommendations.”

Following the Dáil debate, human rights lecturer and co-founder of the Clann Project Dr Maeve O’Rourke, tweeted her thoughts…

In addition, Marie O’Connor, chair of the Survivors of Symphysiotomy, also tweeted her thoughts…

Yesterday: Who Came Up With The ‘Prior Complaint’ Requirement?

Previously:  Magdalene Laundries on Broadsheet

UPDATE:

Last month, Conall Ó Fátharta, in the Irish Examiner, reported that barrister Mary O’Toole is carrying out the review mentioned by Mr Flanagan above and that just eight women who had been in dispute with the Department of Justice over the length of time they worked in a Magdalene laundry have so far received redress payments.

Mr Ó Fátharta also reported that Ms O’Toole had identified a total of 214 cases for review.

Eight redress payments made to Magdalene survivors (Conall Ó Fátharta, The Irish Examiner, June 17, 2019)

 

 

 

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin tweetz:

Just 18% of 2019 Traveller accommodation budget spent to date

19 Councils have spent nothing to date

5 didnt request an allocation for 2019

And we wonder why families are on illegal sites or tragedies like Carrickmines happen???

Previously: ‘So A Tragedy Like This Never Occurs Again’

Behold: the rolling sculpture that is the Curtiss Zeus Radial V8 – an all-electric 217bhp motorcycle with its eight battery packs arranged in tribute to the original Curtiss V8 racing bikes of the early 20th century – a design that also allows for improved engine cooling.

Set to launch next year and yours for around €66,000.

uncrate