Maman Poulet | Clucking away crookedly through media, politics and life

Enda needs to know the story

April 21st, 2011 · Equality, General Election 2011, Irish Politics, LGBT

If you are a lgbt teacher and feel like writing a letter about Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, the Taoiseach may need a lesson in his own programme for government. The publicly identified bit in the programme for government may need a bit of editing too while you are at the suggesting!

Labour TD Aodhán O’Riordáin raised the issue in the Order of business on Tuesday

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

I note the programme for Government states that people of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the State. This is a clear reference to section 37 of the Equality Act. When will an amendment to that legislation come before the House so that the discriminatory practices of some schools can be outlawed?

Enda Kenny

I do not know the detail of the issue raised by the Deputy but it is clearly of some concern to him. If he provides the detail, I will give him a reply either in the House or directly as soon as possible.

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‘The Others’

April 18th, 2011 · Disability

Laura Maye is final year student in the University of Limerick studying for a Bachelors degree in Music, Media and Performance Technology.  This animation on disability is part of her final year project and there are powerful messages in it from Sarah Fitzgerald and Dani Wheldon.

“The Others” from Laura Maye on Vimeo.

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Wash, rinse, repeat, suds

April 18th, 2011 · Irish Politics, Recession

I’ve been cranky for the past few weeks, unwell, computer problems and a heavy workload. The bullshit from the media on the property market isn’t making me feel much better.

Friday’s auction of ‘distressed’ properties stank of those queues back in the tiger time that were seen overnight outside estate agents for the purchase of properties yet to be built. The bargains didn’t seem to be much of a discount compared to the non auction action. But the property editors were awakened from their slumber and it seems that NAMA are aiming to get them into a perpetual state of hyperactivity. The Sunday Independent screamed ‘At Last! A Plan to Kick Start Property’. Yes I know you should never believe anything you read in the Sindo but you can see where this is going. The media are chomping for so called ‘good news’ dare I say it green shoots and indeed advertising revenue and few are going to question whether the property marketing spin is the solution to the mess we are in. While thousands can’t pay their mortgages bankers and construction sector beg for money to be made available to loan to people to buy more houses. It’s stupid stuff.

The Irish League of Credit Union’s research last week which looked at the lack of disposable income available to people employed and unemployed should be the headlines that lead the newspapers and the policy agenda. Yet more focus is being placed on cutting the wages of those on low incomes and the JLC agreements. And we get more hype over job creation in shopping which I mentioned before goes unchallenged.

I’ll be cranky a while yet it seems.

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Lights Camera Action! Competition

April 17th, 2011 · Equality

Attention photographers and film-makers!

Claiming our Future are running a competition seeking 1 minute videos or photographs which represent the theme of Income Equality- Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor.

Closing date is May 9th. All entries will be acknowledged and the best selection will be shown on May 28th in Galway at the Claiming Our Future Ideas- Reducing Income Inequality National Discussion.  Claiming our Future will respect the copyright and intellectual property rights of every contributor and will not distribute to third parties.  Entries should be submitted to info@claimingourfuture.ie

Best Entries will be uploaded to Claiming Our Future’s online media and will be used by Claiming Our Future to campaign and advocate for a more equal Ireland.

 

 

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Bertie talks about Nigeria… again

April 14th, 2011 · Irish Politics

Today’s Irish Times covers an interview given to a business research publication on Nigeria and what Bertie Ahern thinks must be done to improve the economy and how they can learn from Ireland’s woes.  (h/t to Mark Coughlan who brought the interview to my attention on Tuesday! )

Amongst other issues he mentions Public Private Partnerships, like they worked so well ov

er here eh?

Ahern pointed out that ensuring banks were regulated and operated in line with best international standards could prove to be another key factor in capturing the interest of foreign investors.

While he was keen to highlight the policies that paved the way for Ireland’s transformation two decades ago, Ahern also acknowledged that Nigeria could learn lessons from the Republic’s current economic woes, most notably the importance of spreading risk by growing the economy across the sectors.

“As can be seen from the current precarious state of Ireland’s financial sector, the importance of economic diversity is huge,” he said. “Overexposure to any sector should not be taken lightly, as was seen when construction in Ireland accounted for over 15% of GDP at the height of the boom.”

Lovely photo of Bertie and the journalist who interviewed him!  Note the drinks cabinet!

No sign of an  actual Bertie earner trip anywhere recently but if you spot our Iar Iar Taoiseach – the Honourable Mr. Ahern anywhere out foreign giving one of his speeches let us know!  Bertie of course hans form in Nigeria as regular readers may remember

He’s still listed as a speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau and still giving the same speeches for $40k plus expsenses! I wonder how much he charges for giving interviews to business consultants or is this part of a pitch for him and his ‘expertise’ to be invited back to Nigeria?

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