Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a barbaric physical and human rights violation of young girls and women and is internationally recognised as such. It involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or “any practice that purposely changes or injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” FGM is mostly carried out […]
At nearly every protest in every western country, the attendees can be broadly divided into two groups of people. One group is the people who are there because they feel very strongly about the particular issue being protested. Some of them may never have protested before, and may never protest again. They may be there […]
The media campaign for euthanasia appears to be well under way at the moment. While various broadcasters and columnists have been issuing a call for a debate on this issue, it’s very difficult to see what we are being presented with as anything other than a push for euthansia. It is displayed almost too neatly […]
In 2019, Ireland’s birth rate fell even further, sliding to the lowest level ever on record according to the Central Statistics Office. That means we’re having far fewer children now than we did when this was a much poorer country, with less resources and supports available to families. If children, according to the UN, are an expression of […]
A new study has found that 70% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion in countries where it is broadly legal, while in countries where abortion is restricted, this happens only in 50% of the cases. A new multi-authored study published by The Lancet medical journal investigated the occurrence of abortion in unintended pregnancies world-wide. […]
A continent-sized land mass on the other side of the world might not seem like an obvious target for a comparative analysis. Australia’s glorious weather and the diversity of its often-terrifying wildlife also set it apart. As does the bloody-minded optimism of its natives which, while perhaps an evolved response to both of the aforementioned […]
The fifteen year old who was gang-raped by a bunch of older men in a Dublin hotel is, the Irish Times and Irish Independent told us yesterday, “troubled”: A 15-YEAR-OLD girl deemed at high risk of sexual exploitation was reported to have been “coked out of it” while spending the night at a Dublin city […]
Identity politics is as much about the collapse of old identities as the forging of new ones. The current discussion about how the centenary anniversary of Ireland’s partition should be marked shows how radically political identities can be re-constructed over time. When Michéal Martin stood up in Dail Éireann about a year ago and declared […]
It is important, generally, to try and not get personal when it comes to the people who govern us. For the most part, they are doing their best. Being wrong, as they regularly are is a human fault, not one that is specific to one party, or one person. Politicians want to be remembered well, […]
Two places, two very different situations, and it’s worth talking about. First, Ireland: Nphet recommendations ahead of today’s cabinet meeting: 🔸Older people asked to limit time outdoors, avoid congregated settings. 🔸Family gatherings reduced to six per house indoors, 15 outdoors. 🔸People asked to work from home if they can. https://t.co/4kGSr0MRkQ — Philip Ryan (@Philip_Ryan) August […]
What do we learn from comparing the response and experience of different countries to Covid? Nothing useful I would argue. Perhaps when it’s all over we can start comparing and asking who made the best decisions, but this is not over; we aren’t even at half time. Which countries’ leaders have made the best decisions? […]
This is not Minneapolis. This is not Portland. This is Dublin. And this happened yesterday. Last month we had a Black Lives Matter march through the city. Last week we had our president sign into law new powers for vulture funds and banks. Yesterday we had black people dragged out of their home by men […]