Irish Politics, Current Affairs and Magazine Archive - Politico.ie

References have been made in recent weeks to the loss of Ireland's economic self-determination and the insult to Irish revolutionaries who fought for independence, human dignity and equality. Some media commentators ridiculed such references.

Historical context clearly resonated with protesters at yesterday's march on the GPO. Fintan O'Toole noted that the 1913 Dublin Strike and Lockout and the 1916 Rising took place within yards of where he stood. He spoke of the contemptible irony that almost 100 years on, Irish people are again demanding the same rights and dignity. He spoke of the contradictions that describe Irish society: "If you steal €10 you go to jail and if you steal €10 million you are idolised."  

O'Toole suggested that in addition to the forthcoming budgetary cuts, the government cut 2013 and 2016 from the calender as it would be hypocrisy for Irish politicians to commemorate these landmarks having eroded Ireland's economic sovereignty and dragged the country back to a state of mass unemployment and mass emigration. His speech was met with rousing applause.

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The blanket of snow that fell overnight seems to be a welcome distraction for many from the blanket coverage of our economic woes. Spirits are upbeat on Twitter and Facebook this morning with photos from across the country. [Gallery below]

A record low for November of -7.5 C was recorded last night at Casement Weather Station in Dublin Airport. The previous lowest November temperature of -7.2 C was recorded in Shannon Airport in 1952. Joan Blackburn of Met Eireann explained on Phantom FM this morning that such low temperatures are usually recorded over snow-covered ground. This will continue over the coming nights as further snowfall is expected and daytime temperatures remain between zero and three degrees Celcius.

 

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A new political consciousness is developing in the bedrooms of Ireland. Angry, tech savvy and disillusioned with the situation they find themselves in economically and politically, these people are mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore.

Or they are, but they're at the very least going to post some videos on Facebook. They might even go on that march, as long as it’s not too cold.

Public anger is growing. Three austerity budgets and the banking guarantee have deepened rather than resolved the economic crisis. And now, in defiance of all the evidence the government is going to continue with these failed policies with more vigor and determination that ever before.

The four-year plan and Budget 2011 will push thousands of families into poverty. It will deflate the economy, force more people out of work and do nothing to reduce the deficit.

There is little evidence to suggest that the Jesuits had a huge influence in the formative years of our current cabinet of ministers. Lots of Christian Brothers were involved. The Cistercians trained the mind of our dear leader in Roscrea.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, on the other hand, was once under the wing of the Jesuits in Belvedere College on Dublin's Northside, the Alma Mater not only of James Joyce and Sir Terry Wogan, but also Richard Bruton, Garret Fitzgerald and his own younger brother Conor.

In editing the recent review of Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing, so much was taken out. For those interested in the novel, here is another exposition of a key scene. By Shane Creevy.

Perhaps the best example of the significance accorded subjectivity in The Crossing is the gypsy's story of the airplane. The gypsies arrive when Billy's horse is teetering on the brink of death. As he weaves the tapestry of his story, the gypsy restores the horse to health. Despite the abundance of death in the rest of the trilogy, therefore, one may interpret the act of storytelling as sanctifying life. Whether one believes it or not, the gypsy's tale is invested with sacred value.

On November 25, the International Day Opposing Violence Against Women, the 16 Days of Action campaign will be launched both internationally and within Ireland. Over 2,000 groups in 150 countries worldwide will organise a range of events to raise public awareness of the staggering levels of domestic abuse against women. The campaign will conclude on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. By Justin Frewen.

One in 5 Irish women have suffered domestic abuse by a former or current spouse or partner. These statistics only account for those who have reported this abuse so the levels of abuse could be even higher. Moreover, on average a woman will suffer abuse 35 times before reporting it.

Reading Commissioner Olli Rehn's comments today, it would seem that we're suffering from European 'group think' in relation to our budgetary strategy. Either they're getting it from us or we're getting it from them, but the lack of critical examination of the €15bn target over four years is worrying. Particularly as this large figure only recently slipped into the discourse, almost without question.

What does Olli Rehn know? He has backed the government's four-year budgetary strategy. But no strategy exists that I know of, save some very vague idea of saving €6bn with the coming budget, followed by further savings of varying amounts over the next three years taking us to a total €15bn. Is there any further detail and has he seen it? And if so, why has he seen it before the main opposition parties or even the Irish people?

It is critical that suicide prevention initiatives are person-centred and place those requiring support at the centre of the process. By Justin Frewen and Dr. Anna Datta. 

Over one million people end their own lives annually, accounting for 1% to 2% of total global mortality. Ten to 20 times more people attempt to end their lives each year. The WHO estimates that by 2020 total suicides will rise to 1.53 million annually, equivalent to a fatality every 20 seconds or suicide attempt every 1-2 seconds.

The 2007 HSE report, Mental Health in Ireland, revealed that suicide was one of the three most important mental health problems faced by Irish adults along with alcohol and depression.

As we collectively brace ourselves for four years of austerity, it is worth remembering that Ireland is not a poor country. By Eoin Ó Broin.

Yes, we have high levels of unemployment and poverty. Yes, we have high levels of private and public debt. But the money that flowed into the country at the height of the boom has not all disappeared.

In June of this year Merrill Lynch, one of the world's biggest financial management companies and Capgemini, the global IT and business consultancy firm, published their 14th World Wealth Report.