Author Archives: Admin

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This evening.

At Leinster House.

Up to 30 asylum seekers, along with members of the groups Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland and Anti Racism Network, and others, will make a presentation on the International Protection Act (IPA) to members of the Dáil.

As this presentation takes place, supporters will gather outside the gates of the Dáil.

Organisers of the event write:

Last month, the IPO (International Protection Office) launched the single application procedure for asylum seekers in Ireland. In early February the IPO sent a 60-page questionnaire form to over 3000 people in the asylum process to be returned within 20 days, including legal counsel.

This new procedure was supposed to increase the efficiency of Ireland’s asylum process. It has, according to those affected, been a ‘shambolic disaster’. Lack of clarity about the deadline, the paralysis of the swamped Refugee Legal Service, the difficulties of retrieving documentation, poor translations of of the form are just some of the obstacles people have had to deal with as they complete a form determining their future and the futures of their children.

The IPA has introduced sweeping changes to Ireland’s immigration law. Many of its provisions seem designed to undermine the internationally recognised right to seek asylum. While the Department of Justice insists that the single procedure will speed up the asylum process, fears that this will be achieved through accelerated deportations, unmonitored refusals, and defective, erratic assessment processes are being proven all too accurate.

Vicky Donnelly of Galway One World Centre observes: “While Trump’s ‘travel ban’ has, quite correctly, been criticised by politicians here, Ireland has been quietly deporting people at the border before they can even make a proper case for asylum. At a time of unprecedented crisis, when a focus on human rights is most needed, the IPB appears purpose-designed to facilitate and speed up deportations. History will judge us harshly unless we recognise these issues and act to correct them.”

Campaigners to visit Leinster House and highlight new Direct Provision chaos 

 

Support MASI! Challenge the International Protection Act (Facebook)

Previously: Heard It Before

Lughan Deane cover

On this week’s Here’s How podcast journalist William Campbell (right) meets Lughan Deane (left), the Communications Executive for the IMPACT trade union.

William writes:

IMPACT are running #ClockedOut campaign, saying that women are working for free from 15.50 onwards because of the gender pay gap.

In this podcast I ask if the statistics really back that up.

Are women paid 14 per cent less for the same work as some claim, or are differentials based on hours worked and experience”

Fight!

Listen here

Here’s How

File Photo: Martin McGuinness Has Died. End. Martin McGuinness speaks in favour of the proposal to end abstentionism at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in the Mansion House in Dublin. The proposal was carried resulting in a minority of delegates, including former leader Ruairi O’Bradaigh walking out and setting up Republican Sinn Fein. 1986. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
File Photo: This Monday will be a crucial day in the life of former Deputy First Minister and former leader of the Provisional IRA, Martin McGuinness as he faces into the latest crisis in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. End. Good Friday Agreement. L TO R. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness look over the wire in Stormont Castle at lunch time after putting their final approval to the Good Friday (Belfast Agreement) peace agreement. 10/4/1998 Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
File Photo: Martin McGuinness Has Died. End. 27/06/2012. QUEEN MCGUINNESS HANDSHAKE. Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness watched by First minister Peter Robinson (centre) at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Pic: Photo: RollingNews.ie/PA
File Photo: This Monday will be a crucial day in the life of former Deputy First Minister and former leader of the Provisional IRA, Martin McGuinness as he faces into the latest crisis in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. End. 16/7/2007. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, at the press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont (Belfast), after their meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Pic. Albert Gonzalez/RollingNews.ie
13/11/2011 McGuinness Rally. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness gets a great reception as he arrives for his Presidential Rally at the packed Mansion House in Dublin. Photo Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

From top: Martin McGuinness at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, 1986; with Gerry Adams in 1998; Meeting the Queen with Peter Robinson, 2011; with Ian Paisley, 2007 and during the 2012 Presidential Election.

“Throughout his life Martin showed great determination, dignity and humility and it was no different during his short illness.

“He was a passionate republican who worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation and for the re-unification of his country.

“But above all he loved his family and the people of Derry and he was immensely proud of both.

“On behalf of republicans everywhere we extend our condolences to Bernie, Fiachra, Emmett, Fionnuala and Grainne, grandchildren and the extended McGuinness family.”

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams

Martin McGuinness dies after short illness (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

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Australian artist Joshua Smith’s 1:20 scale reproductions of the grubby, characterful inner city architecture of Hong Kong, Sydney and Los Angeles. Each MDF card and plastic building takes several months to create.

Moe of his work here and here.

colossal

endsmeet

Calls for Dail to implement “Brenter” and rejoin the UK

Ed Sheeran’s latest song “Dippy Egg” features shout out to Bord Bia

Clampers getting make over. Say hello to the Glampers. Bada Bing!

Just some of the highlights from a new web series called ‘Ends Meet’ about three generations of Irishmen (including a defiantly tri-coloured nipper) “trying to get by”.

Created by Mark Baldwin (no stranger to ‘sheet readers) Ends Meet has been picked up by RTÉ for a long running series in the Autumn.

You can watch the webisodes that won the series NOW online.

There’s seven and they’re about 2-3 minutes long and available on the RTÉ Player.

Unless you live ‘abroad’.

*shakes fist*

Watch here

Graeme K writes:

I see [Irish Times Political Correspondent] Michael O’Regan’s tweet remains undeleted in the face of some justifiable criticism….

While part of me thinks good on him for sticking to his guns  another part says what a complete and utter spanner…

FIGHT!

jfm

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From top; submission to Cork City Council; The Good Shepherd Magdalene Asylum, Cork

The Irish Times dated 27th April 1932 contains a report concerning Margaret G, described
as a ‘young woman’, who was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for the
‘concealment of the birth of her illegitimate child’.

The judge said the sentence ‘would not come into effect of the court to the effect that [sic] she should remain in the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Cork, and be subject to the supervision and direction of the Superioress there for a period of two years’.

A Margaret G is buried in the Good Shepherd grave located at Sundays Well in Cork, having died on 11th February 1978.

If the Margaret G referred to in the article is the same woman who is buried at Sunday’s Well, she spent a total of 46 years in Sunday’s Well, 44 years on top of her original sentence for concealing the birth of what was then termed an ‘illegitimate’ child.

Part of a submission to Cork City Council in relation to the proposed development  at the site of the former Magdalene Laundry operated by the Good Shepherd Sisters at Sundays Well in Cork City.

Meanwhile…

Via Justice For Magdalenes:

We have gathered an archive of over 4,000 pages relating to the Magdalene Institutions;
this archive has been scanned and will soon be available on-line.

We have also been gathering material for a ‘virtual digital museum’ where images, audio, transcripts and archive can be put on-line for people to learn from and donate to.

The Magdalene Names Project, JFMR has been working on collating a complete list of names of women who died within the Magdalene walls from a variety of archival sources
(as we do not have access to the records that the religious orders hold) and we are
working to commemorate the women with appropriate headstones.

In fairness

Full rsubmission here

Justice For Magdalenes