Social Justice Matters

123. SJI Interviews Ep 75: Violence in Women’s Prisons with Keith Adams, JCFJ

There have been a number of reports recently of issues and complaints in Dóchas, the women's prison in the Mountjoy campus in Dublin. In this week's episode, Colette Bennett discusses these issues, the lack of transparency and the Government's decision not to publish reports of the Inspector of Prisons, as well as how the narrative to end violence against women leaves many behind.

We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.

122. Special Episode: The MA in Social Justice and Public Policy 2022

Social Justice Ireland is a key partner in a Masters programme that is run in conjunction with the Waterford IT campus of the new South East Technological University and delivered in Dublin city. This programme is called the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy.

This is our second special episode of Social Justice Matters and it should be of great interest to anyone considering enrolling in this MA. The episode is anchored by MA Programme Leader Dr. Paul Clogher of WIT, and includes information on the evolution of the programme and the major ideas and themes behind.

We also hear from Dr. Susan Flynn, Head of the Department of Arts, Dr. Hazel O'Brien, Department of Arts, Dr. Seán Healy, CEO, Social Justice Ireland and we get the student experience of the programme from recent graduate Susanne Rogers, who also works for Social Justice Ireland as a research and policy analyst. 

More details about this programme are available here: https://www.wit.ie/courses/ma-in-social-justice-and-public-policy

 

121. SJI Interviews Ep 74: Children’s Rights with Saoirse Brady

The Children's Rights Alliance published its Report Card 2022 in February of this year (Report Card 2022 | Children's Rights Alliance (childrensrights.ie)) "the second analysis of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party’s joint Programme for Government: Our Shared Future and how it performed for children in 2021."

In this week's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Saoirse Brady of the Alliance about the results of this year's Report Card, the improvements that have been made in the area and the policy challenges that are yet to be overcome. 

120. SJI Seminars Ep28: Launch presentation of Social Justice Matters: a 2022 guide to a fairer Irish Society

We launched our socio-economic review for 2022 on Tuesday, 19th April 2022. This annual publication is where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society; and a policy framework to move consistently and coherently towards that society. 

In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.

119. SJI Interviews EP.73: Séamus Boland on the Conference of the Future of Europe

This week, Séamus Boland, from the European Economic Social Council, chats with Susanne Rogers about the Conference on the Future of Europe. As Europe shapes more and more of Irish life, whose voice gets to be heard is an important topic. 

Séamus is the current President of the European Economic Social Council - Diversity Group III. The Diversity Group is made up of delegates drawn from each member state, representing sectors which include, community, agriculture, environment, consumers, social economy and various professions.

118. SJI Interviews Ep72: Ruairi McKiernan on connections and a new Social Contract

We need a radical re-think of our society and our place in it. In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Ruairi McKiernan about the Ukrainian crisis; the need for connection; youth mental health; a new Social Contract; and finding our place in it all. It's a fascinating episode. 

117. SJI Interviews Ep71: Environmental Justice and Inequality

On the 24th March 2022, CLM and DCU published their report, 'Environmental Justice in Ireland: Key dimensions of environmental and injustice experienced by vulnerable and marginalised communities', looking at the impact of environmental injustice on people and communities most impacted by environmental issues and least supported to address them. In today's episode, Colette Bennett speaks with lead author Sadbh O'Neill, Project Lead Dr. Diarmuid Torney, and Clodagh Daly of Community Law and Mediation on the need to increase awareness and deliberative democracy around environmental justice and key policy proposals for now, for Budget 2023, and beyond.

 

If you would like to read the report, view the videos of the launch, or the infographics developed by CLM on environmental justice, all are available at Environmental Justice in Ireland: New research and resources by DCU and Community Law & Mediation - Community Law (communitylawandmediation.ie)

116. SJI Interviews Ep 70: Dr Madeleine Lyes from Space Engagers

This week, Dr. Madeleine Lyes from Space Engagers chats to Susanne Rogers about they work they do, the importance of community engagement and public participation in the co creation of shared spaces and some exciting new projects. 

Space Engagers is a research and co-design collective on a mission to make our towns and cities more resilient and sustainable by utilising research, citizen engagement and co-design tools. Dr Madeleine Lyes specialises in policy-oriented research and community engagement. She has a background in critical urbanism, with a PhD focused on the development of urbanity in New York City at mid-century. She has worked on worldwide diaspora engagement, developing recommendations which fed into government policy, and was founder of City Intersections, an urban forum for public engagement around issues facing Dublin city. She is based in Limerick.

115. SJI Interviews Ep69: Freedom of Information with Ken Foxe

The Freedom of Information legislation is a key tool allowing individuals and organisations to request records from public bodies. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know about the power it gives them. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats with Ken Foxe, writer, researcher, trainer and director of Right to Know, an Irish transparency organisation that campaigns for greater information access. Ken is an expert on Freedom of Information and has helpfully taken the time to go through the what and how of information access.

The guide that Ken talks about during the podcast is available on his website www.kenfoxe.com and check out the website of Right to Know at www.righttoknow.ie.

114. Crossover Episode with C.J. Quartlbaum from the Labor Forward Podcast

In the week that marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we bring you a Crossover Episode with C.J. Quartlbaum from the Labor Forward podcast. CJ chats about the work he does and the stories he tells and we discuss the changing face of racism and lessons for a multicultural Ireland. 

CJ is a writer and speaker from Brooklyn, NY. He is the founder of the nonprofit, Labor Forward, whose aim is a better teaching of Black history. They do this through a variety of means which includes courses, calendars, and the Labor Forward Podcast. He speaks on a variety of topics but mainly focuses on history, culture, and creating a more unified future. He loves his family (wife and three kids), basketball, and food. You can find his work at  CJQuartlbaum.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @CJ_Quartlbaum