Social Justice Matters

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

Social Justice Ireland is a key partner in a Masters programme that is run in conjunction with Waterford IT, and delivered in Dublin city. This programme is called the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy.

This special episode of Social Justice Matters should be of great interest to anyone considering enrolling in this MA. The episode is anchored by MA Programme Leader Paul Clogher of WIT, and includes information on the evolution of the programme and the major ideas and themes behind; the student experience of the programme, where you’ll hear from Susanne Rogers and John McGeady who are currently in year 2 of the MA.

More details about this programme are available on our home page, socialjustice.ie, or feel free to ring SJI on 01 290 3597 to speak to one of our staff, all of whom have been involved in delivering parts of the programme at some point

28. SJI Interviews Ep13: The Politics of Public Space, with Janet Horner

June 3^rd is World Day of the Bicycle and our guest for the occasion is Janet Horner, a Green Party Councillor representing North Inner City Dublin and a long-time cycling activist.

Not many of us consider public space to be a political battleground. But issues around who gets to use public space and how, and how we’ve structured the built environment of our towns and cities, are inherently political issues, with significant socio-economic, health, environmental, human rights, and particularly gender dimensions.

As we re-consider the extent to which our society and systems are built around the needs of capital, and not around community living or creating a more caring society, discussions like this are a necessary part of the conversation.

27. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep7: Site Value Tax, what it is and why it should replace the Local Property Tax

The current Local Property Tax system in Ireland is regressive.  It encourages land hoarding and speculation, while dis-incentivising necessary development, such as building more homes in a housing crisis and retrofitting some of the 230,650 homes with the lowest energy efficiency ratings. 

In the 7th episode in the SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst, provides an overview of what the Site Value Tax is, how it works and why it is fairer than the current Local Property Tax system.

The purpose of our SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series is to educate and inform listeners on a particular area of policy, giving a brief overview and hitting on the key points that people need to know. They are intended to be short introductory tutorials to often-complex policy areas!

26. SJI Interviews Ep12: The Finnish Basic Income Study, with Ville-Veikko Pullka of the University of Helsinki

In Episode 12 of our Interview series, Social Justice Ireland’s Economic and Social Analyst Eamon Murphy talks through the findings from Finland’s recent basic income trial, and speaks with Ville-Veikko Pullka of the University of Helsinki.

Finland recently released the results from the world's first statutory, nationwide and randomized basic income trial. It has aroused a lot of interest internationally, with many wondering what the trial would show around questions like how basic income affects people’s participation in the labour market, and what were the effects on things like the wellbeing of recipients. Listen here to find out.

25. SJI Seminars Ep8: President Michael D. Higgins on the Discourse That We Need

In episode 8 of our SJI Seminar Series we take a look back to our 30th Annual Social Policy Conference and to the Keynote Address by President Michael D. Higgins.  In this address, President Higgins reflects on the relative positions of the economy and society, and the shape of political discourse. 

This is an important and relevant address now in the context of finding our way through the current crisis to a just society.  It is also important in the context of ongoing discussions on the formation of a new Government and the formulation of a Programme for Government which will shape the policy decisions affecting all of us over the coming term.

24. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep6: Minimum wage employment and the Living Wage, an explainer

More than 120,000 people were working for the minimum wage at the end of 2019. Is this enough to live a decent standard of living in Ireland? And if not, what is?

In the 6th episode in the SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series, Eamon Murphy analyses the key findings of the CSO's most recent report on minimum wage employment in Ireland, and explains the main differences between the National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage.

The purpose of our SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series is to educate and inform listeners on a particular area of policy, giving a brief overview and hitting on the key points that people need to know. They are intended to be short introductory tutorials to often-complex policy areas!

23. SJI Interviews Ep11: Doireann Ansbro and Liz Farries of ICCL on the civil liberties implications of COVID-19

COVID-19 has seen the introduction of unprecedented restrictions on movement, with powers of detention bestowed on medical officers and Gardaí.  There are also record numbers of people working from home with remote access to personal data that would otherwise only ever be accessed on work premises. 

In Episode 11 of our Interview series, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst chats (remotely) to Doireann Ansbro and Liz Farries of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties on the emergency measures legislation, the data protection implications of the crisis and what this all means from a civil liberties perspective.

22. SJI Interviews Ep10: COVID-19 in the Global South, with Maeve Bateman, Financial Justice Ireland

In Episode 10 of our Interview series, Eamon Murphy sits down with Maeve Bateman, Director of Financial Justice Ireland (formerly DDCI) to discuss some of the problems facing the developing world as a result of COVID-19.

The pandemic, and the resultant economic shock, can only serve to worsen an already unsustainable situation as regards the sovereign debt of many developing countries. Maeve outlines the scale of the issue, and the solutions required.

21. SJI Interviews Ep9: Seán Healy on the FF/FG framework for government negotiations

In Episode 9 of our Interview series, our Economic and Social Analyst Eamon Murphy sits down with Social Justice Ireland CEO Dr. Seán Healy to analyse the draft document published by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael earlier this week.

Given that this document is likely to form the basis for the negotiation of a programme for government, what it contains and what it omits is very important. A full 15-page analysis of the document is available to download for free at socialjustice.ie, and in this episode Seán and Eamon cover some of the key issues, pointing out the positives, the causes for concern, the key omissions, and how it all might be paid for.

20. SJI Interviews Ep8: Bernard Joyce, Director of the Irish Traveller Movement

Today is International Traveller and Roma Day, and just over 3 years since the recognition of Travellers as a distinct ethnic group.

In episode 8 of our interview series, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst, chats (remotely) with Bernard Joyce, Director of the Irish Traveller Movement about discrimination, health, housing and employment.  While there is a lot of work still to be done, there's reason to be optimistic too, as Bernard highlights how communities are working to keep each other safe.