September 21, 2019
Monday 12 Feb 2018, 5:08 PM Gardaí seize 19 rickshaws in Cork City as part of operation with Revenue The rickshaws were seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act. GARDAÍ HAVE SEIZED a total of 19 rickshaws in Cork City.The seizure was made by a garda road policing unit during an operation carried out as part of an ongoing operation with Revenue and Department of Social Protection.The rickshaws were seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act. The vehicles, which are often motorised, are a popular form of transportation for late night revellers in cities.Last June, Dublin City Council issued a public advisory notice warning of the safety hazards of using rickshaws.“Dublin City council wishes to advise members of the public, for their own safety and the safety of others, that rickshaws operating in Dublin City are not regulated by DCC or otherwise,” the Council said in the notice posted on its website.“Some rickshaw operators appear not to have public liability insurance,” it added.Read: Dublin City Council issues warning regarding safety of rickshawsMore: Dublin City Council hopes to have rickshaws banned this year Feb 12th 2018, 5:08 PM 45,226 Views 54 Comments By Hayley Halpin
Share77 Tweet Email3 https://jrnl.ie/3848604 Source: An Garda Síochána/Twitter Roads Policing Unit, Cork City, seize 19 Rickshaws seized under Section 41 RTA following a Multi-Agency Operation with @RevenueIE and @welfare_ie on 10/02/2018. pic.twitter.com/iOErxf5SCL— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) February 12, 2018 Short URL Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Thursday 15 Feb 2018, 7:30 AM By Hayley Halpin 133,439 Views Photo provided by the Broward County Jail shows Nikolas Cruz. Source: AP/PA ImagesUpdated at 1pm https://jrnl.ie/3852444 Former student (19) charged with premeditated murder after 17 killed in Florida school shooting It is understood that both pupils and teachers at the school are among the dead. It has been confirmed that 17 have died in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.A number of other people have been taken to hospital for treatment.The gunman has been identified as Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former pupil at the school who was expelled.Both pupils and teachers are said to be among the dead.It is understood Cruz began shooting outside the school before going inside.SUSPECTED GUNMAN NIKOLAS Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder after 17 people were killed during a school shooting in Florida.Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters yesterday evening that 12 people were killed inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The others died outside the school premises.Cruz was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and was carrying multiple magazines of ammunition when he was arrested in a nearby residential area.17 patients were taken Broward Health hospitals with injuries. 8 patients were taken to Broward Health North hospital – two subsequently died, three are in critical condition and three are in stable condition. The suspect was taken to hospital for treatment.Speaking to reporters yesterday evening, a doctor from Broward Health North said: ”We routinely run drills to be ready for instances like this. We have a process in place that gets initiated so there is calm, collected care that our patients receive.” Students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School evacuate following a shooting. Source: WPLG-TV via APHe said that three patients were undergoing surgery, but were in a stable condition.The doctors declined to comment on the ages of those injured.Israel identified the gunman as Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at the school who had been expelled for “disciplinary reasons,” but was currently enrolled in Broward County Public Schools.Cruz, whose fellow students described him as “troubled,” was arrested without incident in the nearby town of Coral Springs after the Valentine’s Day rampage and taken to hospital with minor injuries, the sheriff said.“We have already begun to dissect his websites and things on social media that he was on and some of the things… are very, very disturbing,” Israel said. Short URL Share534 Tweet Email Feb 14th 2018, 8:10 PM If a person is predisposed to commit such a horrific event by going to a school and shooting people … there’s not anybody or not a lot law enforcement can do about it.It is understood that the shooter began shooting outside the school and proceeded inside.Israel says the man had at least one rifle and multiple magazines.ReactionsUS president Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to those affected by the shooting yesterday evening.“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school,” Trump said.The shooting, one of several in the United States since the start of the year, will once again throw the spotlight on the country’s epidemic of gun violence and the ready accessibility of weapons, with 33,000 gun-related deaths annually.Len Murray’s 17-year-old son, a junior at the school, sent his parents a text around 2.30pm: “Mom and Dad, there have been shots fired on campus at school. There are police sirens outside. I’m in the auditorium and the doors are locked.”A few minutes later, he texted again: “I’m fine.”Ambulances converged in front of the school, and TV news broadcasts showed at least one person being wheeled to an ambulance on a gurney.Live footage also showed emergency workers appearing to treat possibly wounded people on the sidewalks. It wasn’t immediately clear how many were wounded.Television footage showed police in olive fatigues, with weapons drawn, entering the school, then dozens of children frantically running and walking quickly out.[image alt=”School Shooting Florida” src=”http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2018/02/school-shooting-florida-4-296×195.jpg” width=”296″ height=”195″ credit-source=”WPLG-TV” credit-via=”AP” caption=”Students%20exiting%20the%20school%20after%20being%20alerted%20to%20an%20active%20shooter” class=”alignnone” /end]A police officer waved the students on, urging them to quickly evacuate. Some students exited the building in single-file rows with hands raised overhead to show they carried no weapons.Others held onto other students as they made their way out past helmeted police in camouflage with weapons drawn.The Broward Schools department said on its website earlier yesterday evening that it had received reports of “possible multiple injuries” and was dismissing students. The department said students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire and the school immediately went on lockdown.Murray said he raced to the school only to be stopped by authorities under a highway overpass within view of the school buildings. He said he told his son to save his battery and stop texting, while the boy’s mother told him to turn off his ringer.‘I love you’Murray said he had just one thought running through his mind since he got his son’s text: “All I keep thinking about is when I dropped him off this morning – I usually say, ‘I love you’, and I didn’t think this morning.“He’s 17, he’s at that age, and I didn’t say it this morning, and I’m just kicking myself right now over and over and over. Say it early and often, I’m telling you.”The high school is a sprawling complex set on a track in the South Florida community of Parkland, about 70 kilometres north of downtown Miami. Family reunited outside the school Source: Sun Sentinel/TNS/ABACA/PA ImagesThe school had just over 3,100 students in the 2016-2017 academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Major streets run along two sides and an expressway passes nearby on the other not far from a residential neighbourhood of single-family homes.Coral Springs Police have warned the local public to avoid the area. The school was placed on lockdown following the shooting, as students and teachers were barricaded in.‘Just a horrible day for us’Teacher Melissa Falkowski told US networks that she had helped 19 students squeeze into a closet with her.“We were in there for probably 40 minutes. We were locked in the closet until SWAT came and got us,” she told CNN.Police officers in helmets, bulletproof vests and armed with automatic weapons could be seen stationed at several points around the sprawling school complex, which serves nearly 3,000 students. Family members awaiting news from students at the school Source: Sun Sentinel/TNS/ABACA/PA Images“Just a horrible day for us,” said the superintendent of the county’s school district, Robert Runcie.“This is very sad to me and our family too,” 61-year-old Joseph Panikulangara, whose 17-year-old niece Dhiya attends the school, told AFP.The FBI said it was assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.When asked about security, Hunschofsky said a police officer is always stationed at the school and there is a “single point of entry.”With reporting by Associated Press and AFPRead: Oxfam Ireland emails supporters, promises to ‘rebuild trust’ after UK staff’s Haiti prostitution scandalMore: Remains of French nine-year-old who disappeared at wedding in August found 222 Comments Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
FIDEL CASTRO’S ASHES were taken to a symbolic reunion with his fallen comrade-in-arms Ernesto “Che” Guevara in Santa Clara today, the first stop in the late Cold War titan’s last trip across Cuba.After two days of tributes in Havana, hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Cubans lined the streets to bid farewell as a military jeep began a four-day journey yesterday morning with the cedar urn in tow.Crowds chanted “I am Fidel!” as the convoy started retracing the victory tour that Castro’s guerrilla took in 1959 to celebrate their defeat of US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.The flag-covered urn, which rested under a glass case on a small olive-green trailer, arrived in Santa Clara after midnight and entered a complex with a mausoleum and museum dedicated to Guevara.“It’s a historic meeting, two comandantes who change the history of Cuba and humanity,” said Agnier Sanchez, a 33-year-old medical imaging technician.A somber guitar, song and dance show played across a giant statue of Guevara as the “caravan of freedom” paused a third of the way into its 950-kilometer (590-mile) trek across the island. Source: Natacha Pisarenko AP/Press Association ImagesThe convoy will resume this morning, heading to other cities before a final ceremony on Sunday in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where Castro’s ashes will be laid to rest next to 19th century independence hero Jose Marti.Cubans were observing the fifth of nine days of mourning for Castro following his death last Friday at age 90. Castro ruled from 1959 until an illness forced him to hand power to his brother Raul in 2006.Dissidents call Castro a dictator who jailed opponents but others in Cuba praise his legacy of providing free education and health care to Cubans while defying the US “empire.”“I come from a poor family. I am black. In another era, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be who I am today,” said Maria Gonzalez, a 31-year-old computer engineer.Che GuevaraCastro met Guevara in 1955 while in exile in Mexico, and the young doctor joined Fidel and Raul on the boat that took them to Cuba a year later.Guevara won a crucial battle in Santa Clara in 1958, derailing an armored train and taking the city.Guevara was given high-ranking positions in the government but he left in 1966 to lead a guerrilla expedition in Bolivia, where he was captured and executed a year later.His remains were recovered three decades later and taken to Santa Clara, now home to a huge statute of Che and a museum dedicated to the revolutionary icon.“His death seemed like something incredible to me. In fact, I don’t know, something that one can never get used to,” Fidel Castro once told a Spanish journalist, admitting that he occasionally had dreams in which he spoke with Guevara.Uncertain futureAs the country ponders its future without Fidel Castro, attention is turning toward Raul and whether he will undertake deeper economic reforms after enacting modest changes in recent years. Raul Castro Source: Ricardo Mazalan AP/Press Association ImagesThe 85-year-old general, who has vowed to step down in 2018, has also restored diplomatic relations with his brother’s eternal enemy, the United States.“If Fidel’s death results in reforms in Cuba speeding up a little, the rapprochement with the United States could be energized,” said Michael Shifter, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank.“It’s an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, but a lot will depend on what happens within the Cuban government,” he said.US President-elect Donald Trump threatened this week to halt the detente that was begun by US President Barack Obama if the Castro government doesn’t offer a “better deal” to the Cuban people.Obama did not join other foreign leaders at a massive rally for Fidel Castro in Havana on Tuesday, instead sending aides as the White House voiced concerns about the human rights situation in Cuba.Along the caravan’s route, Fidel Castro’s supporters were confident that his revolution would go on.“Cuba won’t change,” said Jany de la Caridad, 20, who had the face of a young Fidel painted on her face. “Look at all these people waiting for hours for Fidel’s ashes.“You think that Cuba will deviate from its socialist path with the death of one man – even if it was commander in chief Fidel Castro?”- © AFP, 2016Read: Havana holds huge tribute to Castro; all kinds of world leaders turn upRead: ‘Con la simpatico’: President Higgins is first to sign book of condolences for Castro Share78 Tweet Email Thursday 1 Dec 2016, 8:24 AM Dec 1st 2016, 8:24 AM 10,331 Views Crowds chant ‘I am Fidel’ as leader’s ashes reunited with Che Guevara Castro’s ashes will be laid to rest in a final ceremony on Sunday. http://jrnl.ie/3112809 55 Comments By AFP Short URL Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Share613 Tweet Email Hospitals still owned by the Catholic Church should be handed over to the State, says Micheál Martin He also described what happened to mother and baby home survivors as” unchristian cruelty”. Wednesday 8 Mar 2017, 3:58 PM By Aoife Barry http://jrnl.ie/3276824 84 Comments Image: Leah Farrell Short URL Mar 8th 2017, 3:58 PM 15,401 Views FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin said today he believes that property interests still retained by the Catholic Church in hospitals should be handed over to the State.In an interview with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1 today, he also said that he believes all mother-and-baby homes should be investigated, describing what happened to people such as survivor PJ Haverty, who was on the show before him, as “unchristian cruelty”.He said that what occurred: “Speaks to a very dark side of our history where we had an invasive church governing, if you like, families and the whole ethos and the entire practice and life of people like that.”Martin said that the situation also reveals the “evils of institutionalisation”.“I think it’s a salutary lesson about being very careful into the future and the present day about the perils and potential evils that can result in institutionalisation,” said Martin.In 2002, an indemnity agreement was entered into by the Fianna Fáil Government and 18 religious orders. Under this agreement, the congregations agreed to hand over €128m in cash and property. In return, the State would indemnify these orders against legal actions from former residents. The cost of redress is currently €1.5bn.In November 2015, it was reported that while €42.6 million in property had been transferred from religious orders to the State as part of the abuse redress scheme, a further €31m was at that point outstanding.The deputy was asked if the government should revisit the deal, given what has been revealed about Tuam. Martin said that regarding the church, in his view a better deal could be done – and that all of the hospitals in the State should be given over by the churches to the State.Asked how you could tie it all down, he said it would be a matter of engaging with the various orders one by one.There is a limit actually to what can be achieved in that field if one is honest, but on the other hand there is land and property that should be there for the public good – and some orders have responded in that regard by the way in relation to the provision of some services in health and education.The Fianna Fáil leader agreed that hospitals such as St Vincent’s and the Mater should be handed over to the State. “Given the fact the State is effectively now funding all of these hospitals, my own view is that it’s time if there are any property int that are still retained by the church they should be handed over,” he said.On the subject of schools being handed over, he thought that this could be examined, adding:“In terms of my view any area in education or health where fundamentally the State has made the large investment and has continued to make that investment for 30-40 years, when that comes to an end – that facility or the utilisation of that facility for those purposes – I think those facilities should revert to the State.”With regard to the needs of children in Ireland today – such as mental health services and other needs – Martin said that he hoped the next Budget could prioritise this.“If we are all honest we can’t do everything, let’s at least take something positive out of this scandal and make sure priorities children in the next budget and the kind of services that I have outlined there,” he commented.In addition, he said that he believes the Commission of Inquiry into mother and baby homes has to be broadened out, and there has to be a “proper forum” for families and people affected by the homes to let their story be told.Read: Catherine Corless says more human remains are likely to be buried under Tuam playground> Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Image: Leah Farrell
Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article 10,338 Views Image: AP Photo/Darko Bandic Share Tweet Email1 Feb 4th 2017, 7:39 PM ROMANIA’S PREMIER HAS announced a dramatic climbdown on contentious corruption legislation after five days of demonstrations that were the biggest since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989.Sorin Grindeanu told a hastily convened news conference that the government would meet on Sunday to repeal the emergency decree that had raised worries of a retreat in the fight against graft.“I do not want to divide Romania,” Grindeanu said at government headquarters in Bucharest, prompting celebrations among the estimated 120,000 people protesting outside for a fifth evening in a row.The decree, passed late on Tuesday and due to enter into force on 10 February, was to make abuse of power a crime only punishable by jail if the sums involved exceeded 200,000 lei (€44,000).The left wing government, which has been in office barely a month, also wants in a separate decree to free some 2,500 people from prison serving sentences of less than five years.Grindeanu, from the left-wing Social Democrats (PSD), had said that the measures were to bring penal law into line with the constitution and reduce overcrowding in prisons.Critics had said that the real aim was to let off some of the several thousand officials and politicians ensnared in a major anti-corruption drive in recent years, many of them from the PSD.Earlier this week Brussels, which had previously praised European Union member Romania for its efforts on graft, warned against “backtracking”.The US State Department said it was “deeply concerned” that the new measures “undermine rule of law and weaken accountability for financial and corruption-related crimes”.Grindeanu said today that the penal code still had to be fixed but that a bill would be sent to parliament and the proposed 200,000-lei limit scrapped.- © AFP 2017Read: Hundreds of thousands protest Romanian government’s plan to decriminalise corruption http://jrnl.ie/3223345 By Cormac Fitzgerald Romanian government backtracks on plan to decriminalise corruption after mass protest Hundreds of thousands to the streets for the past five days in protest. Saturday 4 Feb 2017, 7:39 PM 20 Comments Short URL Image: AP Photo/Darko Bandic
Source: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ieTHE LIQUIDATOR OF Console has discontinued legal proceedings against an “innocent bystander” who it is accepted had no involvement with the running of the suicide bereavement charity.The proceedings had been brought against Console’s founder Paul Kelly, his wife Patricia and his sister Joan McKenna following an investigation into the running of the charity.Last June the High Court granted the then interim Console CEO David Hall various orders including one freezing several bank accounts linked to the organisation.Those proceedings were subsequently taken over by Console’s liquidator Tom Murray after the charity was wound up.At the High Court today Martin Hayden SC for the liquidator said that his client was discontinuing proceedings against Joan McKenna. The High Court had previously discontinued freezing orders made against her.In a statement read to the court by Hayden, counsel said the liquidator “acknowledges that Ms McKenna was not involved in the running of Console” and “thanks her for her engagement in the liquidation process”.It has become clear, thanks to the efforts of Ms McKenna, that she had no hand act or part in the control, running or conduct of Console. Feb 7th 2017, 9:09 PM Sister of Paul Kelly officially removed from legal actions against former charity Console The High Court has accepted that Joan McKenna had no involvement in the running of the now wound-up suicide charity. http://jrnl.ie/3228090 14,778 Views No Comments It was also accepted she “never derived any personal financial gain from Console”.The court had previously heard that a Joan Burke McKenna appeared as a director of Console and appeared to have signed company accounts on behalf of the charity.It was accepted by the liquidator that McKenna was never a director of Console nor were the said signatures hers.The liquidator would now work with McKenna to have her name removed from the relevant CRO records, counsel said.McKenna asked that it be noted that she was a supporter of the work done by Console. She waived her entitlement to legal costs and asked that those monies be used as part of the liquidation process.She was aware that counsellors with Console are owed monies for their work. She like many of those vulnerable people affected was “an innocent bystander”, counsel said.McKenna, who thanked her legal team of Michael Hayes solicitor and James Bridgeman Bl, said there was a need for suicide bereavement counselling and asked that support be given to Pieta House.Following the brief application Justice Gilligan agreed to strike out the proceedings against McKenna.Comments are disabled for legal reasonsRead: Man avoids jail for attacking 72-year-old estranged wifeRead: Man found with video showing sexual abuse of five-year-old girl asks judge to spare him jail
Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article By Aodhan O Faolain Short URL Tuesday 7 Feb 2017, 9:09 PM Share7 Tweet Email2 
Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland Share769 Tweet Email2 162 Comments 63,041 Views https://jrnl.ie/3309170 Today, our thoughts are with the most vulnerable sex workers, who will be forced to take greater and greater risks in order to keep the clients they depend upon: those who will drop their prices, those who will agree to unprotected sex, those who will agree to go to an unknown location, and avoid calling the gardaí when attacked or afraid.“We encourage all sex workers to get in contact with SWAI to get support and information on their rights under the new law. We can be contacted by phone 085 8249305 or email info@swai.eu.”These are views not shared by Turn Off The Red Light, a group supported by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Ruhama as well as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.In fact, Mia de Faoite, who survived working as a prostitute, said she knows how important this law is.“It will mean nothing unless we ensure those currently enduring sexual exploitation know they have these protections. The emphasis from today must be on working to reach them to let them know society cares about them and that they no longer need fear criminalisation,” she added.‘This approach will not help victims of trafficking’: Groups at odds as sex bill passes final stage Short URL
Mar 27th 2017, 2:57 PM ‘An historic day’: It is now illegal to buy sex in Ireland Not everyone is happy with the new legislation. Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland Monday 27 Mar 2017, 2:57 PM By Garreth MacNamee NEW LAWS DESIGNED to protect prostitutes by criminalising the buyers of sex came into force today much to the relief of a number of organisations.Turn Off The Red Light, an umbrella group of charities and groups against the selling of sex, described the commencement of the laws as “an historic day” which they believe will help “vulnerable women, children and men in prostitution access support”.Spokeswoman for Turn Off The Red Light, Denise Charlton, said today is important because, for the first time, those involved in prostitution will no longer be criminalised by the law but instead protected by it.“From today, the Irish State is finally telling those sexually exploited through prostitution: ‘You are not to blame. You are not at fault. You are the victim here and we will protect you.’ From today, the law will instead focus on the pimps and traffickers who currently profit to the tune of €250 million from the sex trade,” she added. Kate McGrew of the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland with supporters outside Leinster House last year opposing the laws. Source: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ieHowever, there are those who have been vehemently opposed to the bill. The Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (SWAI) had said that the laws will not stop prostitution but will instead force women to operate in more clandestine way, thus increasing the likelihood of women being abused.ConcernsAccording to the group, their biggest concern is the safety of sex workers, particularly the most vulnerable. They said that laws which criminalise the purchase of sex “do not magically create options for the migrants, trans people, single parents and others who turn to sex work in order to survive”.Spokeswoman Kate McGrew said: “The Government’s moral crusade was driven by ideology not evidence. National and international expert groups provided clear evidence that criminalisation of the purchase of sex is not only ineffective but would be harmful to the health and safety of sex workers across Ireland.
Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article 121 Comments Friday 7 Apr 2017, 6:30 AM By Jennifer DeWan Share489 Tweet Email1 Campaigns Manager, Nasc Ireland IT IS ESTIMATED that there are only about 5,000 Roma living in Ireland. The majority come from former Eastern Bloc countries – in particular Romania and Bulgaria – and came to Ireland following the accession of these countries to the European Union in 2007.However, some arrived earlier, either as seasonal workers (for instance fruit-picking in the southeast) or seeking asylum on the basis of persecution.This means that the majority of Roma living in Ireland have been here over a decade, if not longer. Their children have been born here and gone to school, and are now getting married and starting their own families.And yet, many of the rights that Roma are entitled to as EU citizens, and as long term residents of Ireland, are not accessible to them. And as a result, many Roma have not really integrated into Irish society, and remain marginalised.Here in Nasc Ireland, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, we provide legal advice and information to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from all over the world.Roma are experiencing racism when accessing their rightsWe have worked closely with our Roma clients to ensure that they are able to access the rights they are entitled to, things like jobseekers allowance, child benefit, medical cards, housing assistance, and access to education and employment.We have found through this work that many people in this community can experience racism and even institutional discrimination when trying to access those rights.These are issues that Roma experience across Europe, regardless of their EU citizenship. This can be partially explained by the rules governing the 2007 accession of several Eastern European states to the European Union, states that funnily enough have high populations of Roma.When the 2007 Accession was negotiated, EU member states were given the right to restrict some employment rights of new member citizens for several years. Which effectively meant that people coming to Ireland from Romania and Bulgaria didn’t have an automatic right to work in the same way that people coming from France or Germany did.Lower literacy, health outcomes and employmentAlthough the Irish government reversed that policy in 2012, as a result of Nasc’s strategic advocacy, the policy has had a long-term impact on access to rights and benefits which we believe has had a disproportionate effect on members of the Roma community, who already tend to experience lower literacy and education levels, lower health outcomes, and less employment opportunities compared to EU and Irish citizens.Add to that what can only be described as institutional discrimination in the form of excessive requirements for documentation, arbitrary refusals that are then overturned on appeal, long delays in decision making, and sometimes even outright racism from service providers, means that some members of the Roma community live in extreme poverty, without access to social welfare, medical cards or social housing.These are all rights that as EU citizens and ordinary residents of Ireland, they are entitled to.Naturalisation is crucial to advance Roma rightsRights that exist on paper but are not accessible are hollow indeed when your family is starving, or living in one room with no heat. When you are forced to beg on the street and run the risk of a cycle of arrest and incarceration just to survive.Nasc has been working to support members of the Roma community in applying for Irish citizenship and passports for eligible Irish citizen children.Naturalisation and recognition of Irish citizenship will significantly improve access to rights and services for this community, to guarantee and vindicate those rights, which will also help promote their participation and integration into Irish society.Jennifer DeWan is the Campaigns and Communications Manager at Nasc Ireland, in Cork. As a migrant to Ireland from the US, Jennifer is committed to raising awareness about and promoting positive changes in relation to immigration and integration. To mark this year’s International Roma Day Nasc are hosting an event to promote the political and civic participation of Roma, which will include intensive advice and support on applying for naturalisation and Irish passports, as well as information on housing, social welfare, healthcare and other issues. Opinion: ‘Public inquiries are not just a diversionary tactic. They’re necessary’>Medical cannabis: ‘My dad was able to relax, sleep, laugh, and breathe a bit easier’> 1,537 Views http://jrnl.ie/3327190 Apr 7th 2017, 6:30 AM Jennifer DeWan Short URL ‘Naturalisation and recognition of Irish citizenship will improve Roma rights’ As EU citizens and ordinary residents of Ireland, Roma should not have to face discrimination here, writes Jennifer DeWan.
http://the42.ie/3448901 30,793 Views Earls got his second try to take Ireland to the half century mark for the second week in a row, with Japan finishing on a high with late tries from winger Kenki Fukuoka and replacement scrum-half Yutaka Nagare, at a time when Ireland were down to 14 when Luke McGrath had to go off with the bench emptied.Scorers for Japan:Tries: Ryuji Noguchi, Kenki Fukuoka , Yutaka NagareCons: Rikiya Matsuda (2 from 2)Scorers for Ireland:Tries: Dan Leavy (2), Jack Conan (2), Keith Earls (2), Garry RingroseCons: Paddy Jackson (5 from 5), Rory Scannell (1 from 2)Pens: Jackson (1 from 1)Japan: Ryuji Noguchi; Kotaro Matsushima, William Tupou, Derek Carpenter (Ryohei Yamanaka ’67), Kenki Fukuoka; Yu Tamura (Shuhei Matsuhashi ’59), Fumiaki Tanaka (Yutake Nagare ’55); Keita Inagaki (Shintaro Ishihara ’41), Shota Horie (Yusuke Niwai ’55), Heiichiro Ito (Takuma Asahara ’59); Kotaro Yatabe, Uwe Helu (Shuhei Matsuhashi ’55); Michael Leitch, Yoshitaka Tokanuga, Amanaki Mafi (Hendrik Tui ’41).Ireland: Simon Zebo (Tiernan O’Hallorn ’41); Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose (Kieran Marmion ’68), Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Paddy Jackson (Rory O’Loughlin ’61), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy (Dave Kilcoyne ’58), Niall Scannell (James Tracy ’55), John Ryan (Finlay Bealham ’61, Ryan ‘78); Quinn Roux, Devin Toner (Kieran Treadwell ’61); Rhys Ruddock (Jack O’Donoghue ’64-71 HIA)), Dan Leavy (O’Donoghue ’54- 59) blood), Jack Conan (O’Donoghue ’76).The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us! By John Fallon 9. A record number of tries in a season for an Irish player. Congratulations @KEITHEARLS87 pic.twitter.com/hOmE5bTId0— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 17, 2017 Saturday 17 Jun 2017, 8:05 AM Follow us: the42.ie ‘A bit of a cuddle’ just the trick to put Sexton back on top form, says Sean O’Brien‘He keeps telling us he’s got something up his sleeve other than his arm’ Japan 22Ireland 50John Fallon reports from Ecopa Stadium, ShizuokaKEITH EARLS AGAIN led the way as a relatively inexperienced Irish side romped to their second big win of the summer tour.Japan, one of Ireland’s 2019 World Cup opponents, were easily brushed aside in warm conditions. Earls, who scored twice in the 55-19 win over the USA, continued his blistering form on this tour to settle Ireland with the opening try after 12 minutes when he was put clear down the left by Jack Conan after Ireland turned over a Japanese scrum. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHOPaddy Jackson, who was assured from the outset, landed the left wing conversion to make it 10-0, having got them off the mark with a penalty after seven minutes.The sin-binning of Japan tighthead Heiichiro Ito for killing the ball after another break by Earls afrer 24 minutes allowed the floodgates to open, with Quinn Roux and Devin Toner shaping the line-out to send Dan Leavy over for his first international try.He got his second four minutes later — after another Earls’ break — and then Conan took the final pass from the Limerick man to cross for Ireland’s fourth try. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHOJackson’s touchline conversion meant that Ireland had 21 points posted while Japan were down a man for 10 minutes and left Ireland leading by 31-3 at the break.Conan got his second try of the game six minutes after the restart before Japan responded with their best spell and were rewarded with a try from full-back Ryuji Noguchi, much to the delight of the crowd of around 30,000.Rory O’Loughlin and Kieran Treadwell came on for their Irish debuts — making it seven new caps on this tour so far — before Garry Ringrose was sent over by Tiernan O’Halloran for Ireland’s sixth try 14 minutes from the end. 29 Comments Source: Irish Rugby/Twitter Keith Earls on fire again as Ireland run 7 past Japan Joe Schmidt’s side hit the 50-point mark for the second week running thanks to big displays from Earls and Jack Conan. Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Jun 17th 2017, 8:05 AM Short URL Share76 Tweet Email 
Storm Gareth pictured stormy seas on the Irish Sea Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie https://jrnl.ie/4540728 Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie Storm Gareth pictured stormy seas on the Irish Sea 26,237 Views 6 Comments Short URL Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Northern Ireland Coast Guard unit forced to stand down following burglary during Storm Gareth Police in Coleraine have appealed for witnesses to the robbery. Wednesday 13 Mar 2019, 9:28 PM Share39 Tweet Email2 A COAST GUARD unit in Northern Ireland was forced to stand down today after its computer equipment was stolen by burglars during Storm Gareth.Police in Coleraine have appealed for witnesses after a series of burglaries at a number of premises in a business park in the Gateside Road area of the Derry town last night.One of the premises effected was the base for the Coleraine Coast Guard, which had to stand down because of interference to computers and other equipment.The interference forced the coast guard come offline today, making the unit unable to attend emergency calls on a day of poor weather.Detective Sergeant Gardiner said that all of the burglaries occurred overnight, and that a number of different items were stolen from each premises.“I would appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area of Gateside Road, Coleraine last night to please contact detectives at Coleraine on 101, quoting reference numbers 240, 244, 270, 286 and 324 13/03/19,” he said,“Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.” Mar 13th 2019, 9:28 PM By Stephen McDermott
https://the42.ie/4546426 Saturday 16 Mar 2019, 4:39 PM Wales do the Slam as Schmidt’s shambolic Ireland end Six Nations on dire note Warren Gatland’s side were superb as they claimed a third Grand Slam under the Kiwi head coach. Mar 16th 2019, 4:39 PM 49,707 Views Wales 25Ireland 7Murray Kinsella reports from Principality StadiumTHE EPIC RENDITION of ‘Land of My Fathers’ with the rain teeming down, the inspirational Alun Wyn Jones belting out each word, gave us a sense of what was coming.The try that followed just minutes later hammered the point home – Warren Gatland’s Wales were not going to miss this opportunity to secure their third Grand Slam in the Kiwi’s tenure as head coach.The Welsh were superb and totally deserving of their comprehensive win but, equally, Ireland concluded the 2019 Six Nations on a worrying note as they delivered a shambolic performance, perhaps the worst of the Joe Schmidt era. Wales are Grand Slam champions. Source: Alex Davidson/INPHOSchmidt’s insistence on keeping the roof at the Principality Stadium open utterly backfired as Ireland struggled to hold onto the ball and Wales thrived in the conditions, while the Irish decision-making and basic skill execution were dire.The manner in which Ireland’s discipline – so often a strong point under Schmidt – unravelled was as telling as anything, the visitors giving up 11 penalties to allow man of the match Gareth Anscombe to keep the scoreboard consistently ticking over for Wales.With Johnny Sexton delivering a very poor performance and his halfback partner Conor Murray also making damaging errors, Ireland were wholly lacking control in this contest. Schmidt’s refusal to sub them off until the closing 10 minutes was mystifying. Tadhg Beirne, making his Six Nations debut, showed his quality with one turnover in the first half but really this was all one-way traffic in the superb Wales’ favour as Ireland raised real questions about their World Cup credentials.This was Schmidt’s final Six Nations game as Ireland head coach – as was the case for Gatland – but he now has huge concerns as he attempts to guide his team beyond the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time ever.2018, with its Grand Slam and a win over the All Blacks, seem like a long, long time ago.For Wales, whose Slam was built on an incredibly good defence driven by Shaun Edwards, their prospects at the global tournament are looking pretty rosy right now. Hadleigh Parkes scored an early try for Wales. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHOWales’ start was sensational as Gatland’s men drove Jacob Stockdale into touch from the kick-off, then scored with their first attack as Hadleigh Parkes gathered in a delightful Anscombe chip over the Irish defence to dot down with just 61 seconds on the clock.Anscombe converted and Ireland struggled to hang onto the ball in the wet conditions, while also conceding harmful early penalties, although Parkes did need to make a vital try-saving tackle on Stockdale after quick thinking by Sexton to cross-field kick.The Welsh lost George North to injury inside the opening 10 minutes but Dan Biggar came on to great effect at out-half, with Anscombe shifting to fullback and Liam Williams moving to the wing.A brilliant Beirne breakdown turnover penalty just in front of the Ireland tryline spared Schmidt’s side as Wales piled on more pressure, but Sexton went off his feet at an attacking ruck soon after, Anscombe slotting an impressive penalty from wide right.The Welsh should have then gone 13-0 ahead but Gareth Davies’ tackle on Bundee Aki after the whistle had sounded saw another penalty reversed.Ireland were let off the hook and finally enjoyed an occupation of the Welsh 22 as the game entered the second quarter, only for the home side’s defence to muscle up superbly and turn over a five-metre Irish maul, Adam Beard leading the way. The rain came down heavily in Cardiff. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHOThen another Irish error in a half strewn with them, CJ Stander attempting to quick tap a free-kick but nudging the ball into the Irish scrum in front of him for accidental offside, saw Ireland forced back onto the defensive.The lineout began to come apart with some poor throwing by captain Rory Best – on his final Six Nations appearance – and questionable calling from James Ryan, while Murray knocked the ball-on and then box-kicked into touch on the full to give the Welsh one final shot of the half.It appeared they had missed that chance when Josh Navidi forward passed to Ross Moriarty but, with everything going wrong for Ireland, the big-screen replay showed that Ryan had knocked the ball on first.Referee Angus Gardner reversed his decision and Ireland conceded another penalty – their eighth of the half – at the scrum to allow Anscombe to kick Wales out to 16-0 on the stroke of half-time.Ireland’s start to the second half was poor as Ryan was choke-tackled by Jones, Navidi and Beard but good scrum pressure then forced a knock-on from Wales number eight Moriarty at the base.Handed that set-piece opportunity, Ireland ran down a blind alley and then Sexton kicked into touch on the full to invite the Welsh back into the visitors’ half. Gareth Anscombe slots a kick at goal. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHOAnscombe was able to further extend the Welsh lead in the 49th minute as Cian Healy was pinged for coming in the side of a ruck 36 metres out, resulting in a 19-0 deficit.Sexton then proceeded to kick a poorly-struck restart dead as the performance unravelled even further, Stander failing to roll away from a tackle as Tipuric cleverly pinned him in and Anscombe kicking the Welsh out to 22-0.Sexton’s struggles continued when Ireland had their next visit into the Welsh 22, his pass going to ground and into touch as Schmidt’s side pressured the home team.Ireland got a break as Tipuric spilt the subsequent lineout, however, and Murray was just stopped just short the tryline. More Irish possession followed but Tipuric jackaled to force the ball loose and Beirne knocked-on in the ensuing scramble.Soon Ireland were back on their own tryline, as Murray’s pass from a lineout went to ground and Parkes hacked the ball ahead, the retreating Keith Earls forced to carry it back over his own tryline and hand the Welsh a five-metre scrum.Wales couldn’t turn that into a score but replacement tighthead Andrew Porter went off his feet at an Irish ruck minutes later and Anscombe continued his 100% record off the tee for 25-0. Sexton struggled badly for Ireland. Source: Alex Davidson/INPHOIreland did, at least, spare themselves the ignominy of failing to score any points, replacement Jordan Larmour crossing after Stockdale’s break.But the game ended as it had started, with the Welsh crowd in full voice as they celebrated their Grand Slam.Wales scorers:Tries: Hadleigh ParkesConversions: Gareth Anscombe [1 from 1]Penalties: Gareth Anscombe [5 from 5]Ireland scorers:Tries: Jordan LarmourConversions: Jack Carty [1 from 1]WALES: Liam Williams; George North (Dan Biggar ’9), Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes (Owen Watkin ’71), Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies (Aled Davies ’57); Rob Evans (Nicky Smith ’54), Ken Owens (Elliot Dee ’61), Tomas Francis (Dillon Lewis ’54); Adam Beard (Jake Ball ’71), Alun Wyn Jones (captain); Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty (Aaron Wainwright ’71).IRELAND: Rob Kearney (Jordan Larmour ’65); Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton (Jack Carty ’73), Conor Murray (Kieran Marmion ’70); Cian Healy (Dave Kilcoyne ’59), Rory Best (captain) (Niall Scannell ’65), Tadhg Furlong (Andrew Porter ’65); Tadhg Beirne (Quinn Roux ’59), James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien (Jack Conan ’52), CJ Stander.Referee: Angus Gardner [Australia].Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here: Share13 Tweet Email2 
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THE HEAD OF the Residential Tenancies Board has said that students living in private student accommodation are in many cases living in tenancies and are entitled to the legal protections afforded in this situation.RTB director Rosalind Carroll told an Oireachtas Housing Committee earlier this week that students living in accommodation who may be facing significant rent increases should contact the RTB to ensure they are legally protected as tenants.“First of all just to say we believe a lot of the student accommodation out there that’s purpose-built but within the private sector does come within our remit,” Carroll told the committee.“And I want just to make that very explicit because some of the press it isn’t and it’s really important that tenants understand that they should take the case to us. By Cormac Fitzgerald There’s a lot of cases out there where people might claim that something is a licence but the fact is it doesn’t matter what it’s named, it’s about what its substance is. http://jrnl.ie/4072924 10 Comments DCU students staging a sleepout in protest at rising rents in April. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie Carroll and other members of the RTB were before the Committee as it scrutinises the new Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill.Shanowen Shakedown Carroll’s comments will be welcomed by students currently campaigning against significant rent hikes in their accommodation.A number of private providers of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) have been hiking the rents of the properties by up to 30% in some cases, to bring them in line with newer units on the market.This issue was brought into sharp focus in April when a group of DCU students staged a number of protests as part of the Shanowen Shakedown campaign, combating plans by a private provider to hike rents by 27%.It was believed that unlike with normal private rental properties in certain areas, PBSA units are not subject to the rent controls that were introduced by government in late 2016.It was stated that students living in this type of accommodation were in licensee arrangements, and not traditional tenancies.This means they don’t fall under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Acts and the Residential Tenancies Board – so they couldn’t take a case to the RTB and would have far fewer rights than offered to tenants.However, Carroll’s statement this week clarifies that students in this accommodation may in fact be tenants and therefore granted all the rights afforded traditional tenants.It is believed that cases in relation to this have been taken by students to the RTB and that a final decision is being awaited.Clarification Earlier this month, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin housing spokespeople Darragh O’Brien and Eoin Ó Broin said they would work together to ensure the uncertainty around student accommodation rents was solved.The pair have called for the government to add a provision to its Bill which will see student accommodation rent rises capped at 4%.If the government fails to do this, both parties have said they will work together to ensure an amendment is voted in – and have issued an ultimatum of sorts to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and Fine Gael.Speaking this week, Rosalind Carroll said that the RTB would welcome clarity around the issue to be included in rental laws.“If a tenant has peaceful and exclusive occupation of that dwelling. Isn’t being moved from room to room on a weekly basis or on a regular basis. They’re kind of two core principles that you would look at in terms of looking at student accommodation,” she said.That doesn’t mean to say that providing clarity in the legislation would provide everybody with a bit more assurance on that.Speaking to TheJournal.ie this week, Eoin Ó Broin said that comments from the Carroll meant that the government had no reason not to bring student accommodation under the remit of the RTB in new laws.“If the RTB are saying these people are already included but they would welcome clarification, there is no argument from the minster not to include that in the legislation,” he said. DCU students staging a sleepout in protest at rising rents in April. Students facing 27% rent hikes in accommodation should take a case to the RTB, says chief Rosalind Carroll said student should contact the RTB with cases. 
Share52 Tweet Email Saturday 16 Jun 2018, 7:00 AM Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie 8,066 Views Jun 16th 2018, 7:01 AM Short URL Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Prime Minister George Papandreou detailed his government’s initiatives in a series of foreign policy issues during an informal meeting in Berlin with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday, on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The meeting was held at the initiative of the Greek side to better present Athens’ positions. Papandreou referred both to his recent trip to Istanbul and his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as to Greece’s initiative on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), stressing that “Greece is playing a leading role in the Balkans again and desires to contribute decisively to (the region’s) EU accession course.” The Greek prime minister made it absolutely clear that a precondition for FYROM accession course is the solving of the neighbouring country’s name, in accordance with “national red lines” that has been set on the part of Greece, meaning a composite name with a geographical qualifier for all uses without exception. Papandreou also pointed to his initiative for an informal acquaintance meeting with Skopje’s Gruevski, which took place in Brussels recently. The Greek prime minister further briefed Clinton on his recent trip to Cyprus, his talks with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the island’s other political forces and underlined that “we must let the two communities discuss their future openly and freely, under the umbrella of the EU.” Papandreou pointed out that whatever agreement is reached must fully respect the acquis communautaire to enable it to be a workable European solution. On the occasion of Clinton’s recent meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch, the prime minister also focused on the issues of the Patriarchate. On her part, Clinton agreed that the new Greek government is a government that takes initiatives. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram The leader of the Victorian Opposition, Ted Bailieu has expressed his lack of confidence with the way the government has handled the implementation of the clearways extension while underscoring the policy’s impact on inner city shopping strips. “I certainly believe, as do traders affected by clearways, that it will have a big impact on their trade,” the Leader of the Victorian Opposition said to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE). “Traders have only received a token response from the Brumby Government, and the Minister for Roads should release the economic impact statement and the studies they have claimed they have done,” Mr Bailieu added. His comments followed a defiant stance adopted by the City of Stonnington regarding the clearways earlier this month. City of Stonnington Mayor Cr Tim Smith rejected a Ministerial determination released on New Year’s Eve that validates VicRoads policy decision to extend clearway hours. “The timing of this decision should ring alarm bells. If the Minister is so confident this is the right decision why would he try to bury it by releasing it at five minutes to midnight on New Years Eve?,” Cr Smith said. In his determination the Minister for Roads Tim Pallas said he believed all economic, social and environmental impacts had been considered in making the decision. “The Minister’s determination simply states that these factors have been considered, it provides no evidence of such,” the Mayor of Stonnington underscored. The City of Stonnington has done its own independent studies by economic experts who have found that if clearway hours are extended, High Street traders alone stand to lose $6 million a year, according to conservative estimates. At the same time graphs from Yarra Trams have showed public transport travel time savings of as little as three minutes over 6km, pointed out the Mayor of Stonnington. Cr Smith indicated that the Council would seek legal advice on the Minister’s decision. “But our position is clear – we will continue the fight, we will not abandon our traders as the State Government has done,” he said. The chairman of Streets Ahead Inc. which represents among other Chapel St traders, James Pothitos called for the government not to ignore the traders. “Every [government] decision has its consequences,” Mr Pothitos said. “If one business shuts down that is considered a loss what if 10 or 100 businesses shut down what’s going to happen then,” Mr Pothitos added rhetorically. Responding to the criticism raised by the Mayor of Stonnington a spokesperson for the Minister of Roads and Ports Tim Pallas said that the government is “taking action to ensure Melburnians can spend more time with their families and less time in traffic.” “We have made some amendments to the clearways times following feedback from the Stonnington City Council and we now hope to start installing the new signs before the end of this month,” the Minister spokesperson added. Although not directly refuting the findings of the independent economic impact study of the Stonnington Council, the Victorian government is stressing that the economic impact of road congestion costs the Victorian businesses and families up to $2.6 billion per year according to the Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission.
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Four months after the end of the PanHellenic Games held in Melbourne in November last year, a significant number of winning athletes have yet to receive their medals. It is estimated that about 34 athletes who competed in the Games are still waiting for either gold, silver or bronze medals. One 15-year-old athlete from Queensland who won three gold medals in discus, shot putt and javelin respectively, two more athletes from Victoria and the rest from NSW have been put on hold. However, some confusion still exists as to what is the exact number of people who will finally receive the long belated medals.According to a spokesperson from SAE Oceania the medals fiasco was generated because some athletic events were scheduled last minute. “There were younger athletes under 16 who wanted to compete in additional sports from what they were scheduled and we couldn’t refuse them that prerogative,” the SAE spokesperson said to Neos Kosmos.It should be noted that this is the second consecutive Games after the one hel=d in Adelaide that the same problem of a shortage of medals has been experienced by the SAE organising committee. When asked why SAE had not anticipated such issues, and in response ordered extra medals the SAE spokesman said that they had arranged for 40 extra medals. He went on to defend SAE’s organisation, claiming that an added problem was created with the unanticipated number of team officials who were also awarded with a medal each.He added that the members of the winning water polo team, who also have not received their medals, “were more than what originally reported” causing a further medals shortage. When pressed by Neos Kosmos to say if SAE thought that an apology was due to the athletes who have yet to be awarded with their medals, he said “SAE is not denying them of what is theirs and the athletes will get their medals” so no apology was due. The SAE spokesperson did say that “the Games were a cultural event so the medals were not the core objective per se.” He did, however want to apologise for the “extended delay” now close to four months. When asked why such a delay occurred he claimed “problems with the supplier”, arguing that SAE placed the order for the extra medals shortly after the Games. He refused, however, to produce documents showing exactly when the order was placed. The SAE spokesperson did commit that the medal situation will be resolved at the latest by the end of next week.
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Australia’s monetary policy uses a central bank to raise and lower interest rates in order to influence inflation. When inflation is over 3 per cent, the Reserve Bank raises interest rates to stop the economy overheating and when inflation is too low they lower interest rates to stimulate the economy. By keeping inflation within 2 and 3 per cent, they promote stability which promotes employment. So, lately we’ve had interest rates at 4.75 and yet we’ve had two quarters in a row when inflation was well above 3 per cent: 3.6 and 3.9. So it should be time for the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates again. However my company, Yellow Brick Road, has been arguing for a lower official interest rate for several months, because we believe the connection between inflation and interest rates is broken. Raising interest rates punishes those households and businesses that have nothing to do with the cause of the inflation. And economists say that most of Australia’s inflationary pressure comes from the mining sector. Have a look at the latest research from Commonwealth Bank economist, James McIntyre. His team took apart the Reserve Bank’s economic forecasts for the next two years and calculated that over the next two years, the mining sector will grow an average 16 per cent while the non-mining sector will be lucky to see 1.5 per cent. McIntyre says that over the next two years the non-mining sector “is likely to feel like a recession”. It’s time for some questions to be answered: does the RBA want to shut down manufacturing, retail and tourism? Are we being told that the only industry worth being in is mining? Bluescope and OneSteel – Australia’s biggest steel makers – are turning their investment to iron ore mining. Bluescope has closed two blast furnaces and will sack 1000 steel workers. It’s cheaper to send iron ore to China and buy their steel. Qantas is going to sack at least 1000 staff as it tries to establish airlines in Asia. Farmers are selling prime agricultural land to Chinese miners: it’s easier to sell land for coal than it is to grow food. The Reserve Bank is responsible for economic stability and controlling inflation is crucial for the high employment rates that stability promotes. But part of the stability mandate must include explaining the Plan to Australians.And what is the plan? That people living in a 1.5 per cent growth economy have to pay the interest rates that control the inflation in the parallel 16 per cent growth economy? Should we all become miners? Are we fools to be engaged in any other industry? It’s explanation time for the Reserve Bank.
Nikos Panagiotopoulos is set to be appointed Deputy Labor Minister in a swearing-in ceremony taking place on Thursday morning. The ceremony will be attended by Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.The appointment follows the resignation of former Deputy Labor Minister Nikos Nikolopoulos on Monday, who cited a lack of focus on labor and social welfare issues as the reasons behind his decision to exit the coalition government. Source: Kathimerini Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Flinders University will be holding the 10th International Conference on Greek Research, presented concurrently with the 2nd International Conference on Ageing in a Foreign Land. The conference is an initiative of the Flinders University of Modern Greek Section. It is hosted by LOGOS Australian Centre for Hellenic Language and Culture and the School of Humanities at Flinders University with the generous support of The Foundation for Hellenic Studies. The conference will be held during 27-30 June in Adelaide, South Australia. Conference languages in English and Greek. For further information 08 8201 3854
The Pancretan Association of Victoria is sending 20 lucky dance group members on a two week tour of Greece. The tour entitled ‘Pilgrimage to the Homeland’ is the first of its kind in the 30 year history of the association. Recognising the close ties between Australia and Crete, the aim is to promote and foster the relationship for second and third generation Greek Australians. The dance group will have the opportunity to perform at various well recognised festivals and events throughout Crete, including an appearance at the International Conference of Cretans in Hania. Held every four years, with Cretan organisations gathering from around the world, the conference will commemorate 100 years of activity in the Cretan community in Greece and the diaspora. Those participating in the tour will have the chance to tour the homeland of their grandparents and to immerse themselves in the rich culture of Cretan music, dance, food and art. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram More than half the marriages conducted in Greek Orthodox churches in Victoria were mixed, says the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. In 2012, of the 580 weddings conducted by the Archdiocese, 322 of those were mixed.The figures also showed a significant drop in marriages conducted in Greek Orthodox churches in Melbourne. 935 marriages were registered in Greek Orthodox churches in Victoria in 2002, showing nearly a 50 per cent drop in church weddings. This could be due to inter-communal but also to wider societal and demographic changes that result in marriages being conducted in civil services and ceremonies. 455 of these marriages in 2002 were mixed. Greek Australians could be steering towards services and ceremonies due to mixed cultural marriages, but also a break away from religious services.Australians of Italian descent are the biggest ethnic group that Greek Australians are looking for when choosing their life partner, followed by Anglo-Saxons, then smaller ethnic groups, said the Archdiocese. Divorce rates amongst members of our community have also increased. In 2011, 600 marriages were conducted in churches in Melbourne and of those, 96 ended in divorce. However, the church says this rate may be higher, taking into account the Archdiocese only issues divorce certificates for Greek Australians wishing to remarry in the church.
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