
Social Justice Matters is a podcast from Social Justice Ireland. We are an independent justice advocacy think tank that advances the lives of people and communities through providing independent social analysis and effective policy development to create a sustainable future for every member of society and for societies as a whole.
Episodes

Thursday Nov 05, 2020
49. SJI Interviews Ep26: Emmet Kirwan in conversation with Mick Clifford
Thursday Nov 05, 2020
Thursday Nov 05, 2020
Emmet Kirwan is an Irish actor and playwright, best known for his 2014 play Dublin Oldschool and the 2018 movie of the same name. He is also an activist whose work has always had a political tone.
He finds this an easier way to address the social issues he wants to address. "If you have a narrative, people can’t attack that in the same way they can an individual who speaks out".
At our 2018 Social Policy Conference, Emmet sat down with Mick Clifford of the Irish Examiner for a chat that covered everything from political activism to education policy and personal debt.

Thursday Oct 29, 2020
48. SJI Interviews Ep25: Ciaran Nugent (NERI) on the Irish labour market
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Our guest interview this week is Ciaran Nugent, an an economist with the Nevin Economic Research Institute. We discuss some recent trends in the Irish labour market, and a broader vision for the future of the Irish economy.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Thursday Oct 15, 2020
47. SJI Seminars Ep12: Our Budget 2021 Analysis Seminar
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
Less than 24 hours after Ministers Donohoe and McGrath stood up in the Convention Centre to deliver the Budget speech, Social Justice Ireland published the first full and comprehensive analysis of Budget 2021.
In this podcast, you can listen to our post-Budget 2021 seminar, delivered the morning after Budget Day, where we launched this analysis.
Did government take the correct fiscal stance? What is it doing to reduce poverty and inequality? Does the Budget do enough to address climate change? How is the government dealing with the housing crisis? How will Ireland’s most vulnerable fare in Budget 2021? These questions and more are answered.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Thursday Oct 08, 2020
46. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep10: What is the Budget, and how will it affect you?
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Budget 2021 is just around the corner. In the latest episode of our Ten Minute Lessons series, we bring you through the Budget process, when you might expect to feel the impact of the Budget and how you can advocate for change.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Thursday Oct 01, 2020
45. SJI Interviews Ep24: Dr. Liam Thornton on Direct Provision in Ireland
Thursday Oct 01, 2020
Thursday Oct 01, 2020
The current system of Direct Provision was first introduced into Ireland in the year 2000. Over two decades later national and international experts have been damning in their assessment of the system and its "significant human rights" issues. The Programme for Government committed to the abolition of Direct Provision, a welcome move. But how can this be done?
In the latest episode of our Interview series, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Liam Thornton of UCD on the system of Direct Provision and what needs to be done in Budget 2021 to start the abolition process.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Thursday Sep 24, 2020
44. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep9: The Sustainable Development Goals
Thursday Sep 24, 2020
Thursday Sep 24, 2020
It's Global Goals Week, it's also the 5th anniversary of the Global Goals, or as they're also known, the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. In this episode, we look at the Sustainable Development Goals, what they are, how they are measured and how Ireland is progressing towards them.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
43. SJI Seminars Ep11: Our pre-Budget 2021 Briefing Seminar
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
Tuesday Sep 22, 2020
The first budget of the Government of the 33rd Dáil is a mere 3 weeks away. Budget 2021 will be a litmus test of how serious Government is taking its commitment to the creation of a new social contract. It is also important because the Covid-19 pandemic gives this budget unique context.
The most important decisions will be around the fiscal stance: what approach will government take to the significant deficit that will characterise this budget. But all the many challenges that existed pre-Covid remain, and cannot be ignored.
Earlier this week, we launched our Budget Briefing, tackling several key issues and giving fully-costed Budgetary packages in more than a dozen policy areas, and additional costed tax proposals.
Listen here to our commentary on the key issues.
In other news, we are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 20 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/

Thursday Sep 17, 2020
42. SJI Interviews Ep.23: A New Social Contract
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
Despite well documented problems and challenges, Ireland is in the privileged position of having public services and social infrastructure to rely on at a time of crisis. This is due to the social contract that underpins our social infrastructure. The social contract as a concept has evolved to encompass a situation whereby citizens contribute to the common good – whether economically, socially or culturally – on the assumption that the State will provide a minimum standard of living, essential social services and infrastructure, and the protection of their basic rights.
In this episode, following the launch of Social Justice Ireland's 81 Policy Recommendations for a new Social Contract, Colette Bennett and Eamon Murphy discuss this vision and how it could shape a better future for all.

Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
41. SJI Seminars Ep10: Michelle Murphy on Pathways to a Basic Income
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
To mark Basic Income Week, we take a look back to our Annual Social Policy Conference in 2016 on the theme of Basic Income and a presentation by our own Michelle Murphy on Pathways Towards a Basic Income.
For more papers and presentations from this conference, check out our website www.socialjustice.ie

Thursday Sep 10, 2020
40. SJI Interviews Ep22: Dr. Carol Baumann on Domestic Abuse
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
Thursday Sep 10, 2020
An estimated 1 in 5 women in Ireland will experience domestic abuse over the course of their life. Ireland ratified the Istanbul Convention, yet fails to provide the political oversight or economic investment needed to underpin our commitments.
In this episode of Social Justice Matters, Colette Bennett speaks with Dr. Carol Baumann, Head of Domestic Abuse with Cope Galway, about the experiences of women in domestic abuse situations; the supports available; and the investment necessary in Budget 2021 to protect women and children.
