Society

Significance of the reflagging deal

Allowing Irish Ferries to reflag in another country is very significant. This means that once they reflag – which they most likely will do – they are not bound by the deal they struck with SIPTU on the minimum wage or any Irish legislation on labour and workers rights. The registration of an Irish Ferries ship to another nation is allowed under International law in the Geneva Convention of the High Seas 1958.

Poverty and housing crisis in the midst of lavish wealth

Figures on poverty released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on 12 December are almost unbelievable. They show that last year (2004) almost one fifth of the population (19.4 per cent) were at risk of poverty, by which they mean one fifth of the population were living on household incomes of €9,680 or less (that is, €186 per week or less).

 

Fine Gael's Traveller sentiment

Three prominent members of Fine Gael: its leader, Enda Kenny, its best-known Senator and MEP, Jim Higgins, and a spokesperson, Paul Keogh, have all aligned themselves with anti-Traveller sentiment. By Vincent Browne

Christmas is coming...

So let's wheel out the homeless people. It takes The Simpsons to highlight the media's seasonal attitude to the issue of homelessness

'Instruction' on priests and homosexuality is iniquitous

The "instruction" issued by Pope Benedict XVI on the criteria for "the discernment of vocations with regard to persons with homosexual tendencies in view of their admission to the seminary and to holy orders" is deeply offensive. This is not only because of the inveterate prejudice the document exhibits towards homosexuals, but also the indifference, of which the document speaks silently but eloquently, to other "tendencies" among those attracted to the Catholic priesthood.

 

Tales of corruption and intimidation

At an anti-corruption meeting in Dublin on Saturday (19 November) people spoke of Garda harassment, corruption and criminality and how the system leaves them unaccountable

Indemnity deal dressed up to disguise massive shortfall

The indemnity deal agreed with the religious congregations fell far short of the Government's minimum and was dressed up by the inclusion of properties previously given to the State, against Departmental advice, documents reveal. Colin Murphy reports

Enda Kenny and bigotry against Travellers

Prejudice against the Traveller community is now a fact of life in Irish society. It is as ugly, crude and vicious as the racism which prevailed in the southern states of America 50 years ago, founded on ignorance, bigotry and intolerance of the African-American community. But now, for the first time, a national political figure, Enda Kenny, leader of the Opposition, has joined that campaign and contributed his own mite of poison to the well of hate and hostility.

 

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