Category: Economic Justice

Travellers Mental Health Reflects Our Society

All of the speakers in different ways clearly articulated what it is they think accountability means. Specifically, at this protest, they called for the long-promised but never delivered, Traveller-led strategy to address the mental health crisis. Initiatives from within the community are not enough on their own when faced with the kind of intersecting challenges that afflict Traveller communities.

COP26 Diaries: Pilgrims Return and Marching in the Rain

It’s so cold I can’t feel my hands well enough to even tweet, but being at the Glasgow climate march is worth it.

Beacon controversy reveals Irish solidarity

In the middle of the largest public health crisis in living memory, it is a curious situation to find a Minister for Health closing a vaccination centre. But there was little if any protest when Stephen Donnelly suspended operations at the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin last week.

Review: ‘Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs’

Kevin Hargaden reviews Seán McDonagh’s new book ‘Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs’, which explores the impact of automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing on society and the economy.

Tales of Corona Capitalism

Into the hole they poured all their surplus money and when the money filled the hole, a door slid open at the bottom and the money drained out. The people cheered when this happened because this proved they were the most efficient and productive and hardworking people. This truly was the best little country in the world to dig a hole.

CETA agreement should not be ratified

  Trade agreements are difficult things to discuss because they require such specialised knowledge and attention to detail. But they have such an impact on our economy and society that we must be alert to what they contain.

St Augustine with iPad

Apple and the ethics of taxation

  The EU Commission ruled in 2016 that Ireland had illegally offered State aid to Apple in their tax arrangements. Like so many of the multi-national corporations based in Ireland, Apple were never heavily taxed here – paying about 1% of their profits in 2003. But by 2014, that rate had reduced to 0.005%. The… Read more »

The Political Reality of Dignity

  The age in which we live is, apparently, one of seismic political shifts. For some, a dangerous popularism is resurgent around the world. Others optimistically spy the end of neoliberal hegemony and the beginning of a new left renaissance. Regardless of where one falls on these questions, two recent books – Chris Arnade’s Dignity… Read more »

Landlords Should Support a Liveable Minimum Wage

  We knew it could not last forever. I suppose we wish it could have lasted a little longer. There was a sense of the collective back in March. Curiously for our national holiday, people were at home and gathered around television sets to be addressed by the Taoiseach. Unsure of ourselves, and what a pandemic… Read more »

When Debt is Lethal

  Irish society has been dramatically reorganised to mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The national collective effort has been immense, directed at all times to “flattening the curve” and enabling our stretched medical system a chance to cope with those who are ill. Not since the World War II has Irish society faced… Read more »