The redress board worked upstairs, and I worked downstairs at the tribunal. Sometimes, I’d meet a survivor as I took a cigarette break. They’d tell me what was going on upstairs was unbelievable. I’d tell them that as much as I’d love to hear it, I was a journalist, and forbidden by law from talking… Continue reading Full Disclosure
Tag: religion
Speaking Truth To Power
Does Dermot Ahern Read Blogs?
Does Dermot Ahern read this blog? On May Day, I wrote here that the justice minister’s proposal to create a criminal offence of blasphemous libel with a fine of up to €100000 was ‘a return to the brilliance that gave us revenue generating innovations like duty free shopping, DIRT tax, the airport departure tax.’ ‘We… Continue reading Does Dermot Ahern Read Blogs?
Taking At Face Value
I emailed Joe Duffy today. Well, I emailed the show. Joe is off sick, Damien Reilly has been keeping the seat warm. Mick Nugent was on, representing something called Atheists Ireland. (by the way, who elected Mick to speak on behalf of all the atheists in Ireland?) Anyway, Mick was speaking about blasphemous libel, so… Continue reading Taking At Face Value
In The Name Of The Father
Dermot Ahern is going to make cussing a crime. The minister proposes to insert a new section into the Defamation Bill, creating an criminal offence if anyone ‘publishes or utters blasphemous matter’, leading to a large fine. ‘Blasphemy is anything ‘grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing… Continue reading In The Name Of The Father
Acceptable Losses
It was almost as a throwaway item during the 9pm RTÉ News. As part of budget cutbacks, the government has decided not to go ahead as planned with a programme to vaccinate teenage girls, saving ten million euros. The human pappiloma virus (HPV) vaccine protects young girls against a form of cervical cancer. Last June,… Continue reading Acceptable Losses
For Richer For Poorer
A religious think-tank has criticised the Ombudsman for pointing out that Irish tax laws discriminate against unmarried couples. The Iona Institute describes itself as ‘a pro-religion and pro-marriage organisation’. Institute director Davis Quinn said it would be a ‘serious mistake’ to treat married and unmarried couples in the same way. He went on to add… Continue reading For Richer For Poorer
Creating Realities
Among cynical observers of the political process, it’s known as getting your retaliation in first. Create the perception of a threat to something you cherish, declare your support with fervour, issue rallying cries against the strawman you have carefully built, and declare victory when a puzzled opposition confirms that no, there were never any plans… Continue reading Creating Realities
Who Pays The Piper
I was educated by the State. The State paid for to build the schools I was taught in, designed the curriculum, paid my teachers’ salaries. But the first school I went to wasn’t a State school. It was owned and operated by the Catholic church. We’re so used to ‘national schools’ which aren’t owned by… Continue reading Who Pays The Piper
The Wearing Of The Green
Pat Kenny hosted a discussion on school uniforms and the hijab today. The most interesting part of such discussions is often the feedback from listeners. There were a few unusual opinions, to say the least. There’s something odd about a country that lived the through penal laws getting hot under the collar about others who… Continue reading The Wearing Of The Green