Social Justice Matters

19. SJI Interviews Ep7: Housing and COVID-19 with Orla Hegarty

The impact of COVID-19, the coronavirus, has highlighted the weaknesses in both Ireland’s social and economic structures. One such area is housing, particularly for those in communal and cramped accommodation who cannot social distance, self-isolate or, in some cases, avail of adequate washing facilities.

In episode 7 of our interview series, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst, is joined (remotely) by Orla Hegarty, Architect and Lecturer in the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy in UCD to discuss housing policy in a time of crisis and how the pandemic might shape the debate on housing into the future.

18. SJI Interviews Ep6: The economic response to COVID-19, with Tom McDonnell, NERI

To say the least, we are living in strange and unprecedented times. The coronavirus pandemic is arguably the greatest crisis the world has faced in living memory. It has implications for several areas of social policy, not the least of which is the economy.

In Episode 6 of our Interview series, SJI's Economic Analyst Eamon Murphy chats with Dr. Tom McDonnell, co-Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute, to discuss the Irish government’s response to COVID-19, what else might be needed to ensure a robust recovery when this pandemic subsides, and the lessons to be learned from this crisis.

17. SJI Seminars Ep7: Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE - Revolutionising Ageing at Home

It’s a worrying time out there at the moment, particularly for those who are vulnerable, immunosuppressed and older people. One organisation that is providing crucial support to older people is the charity ALONE.

ALONE is a member organisation of the National Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Subgroup for Vulnerable People and is working in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE on a coordinated national response to support older people who have concerns, may be at risk or who have contracted the coronavirus, COVID-19.

One of these critical supports is the operation of a national support line to complement the clinical advice and information being provided by the HSE through its website and helpline service. The ALONE support line is available seven days a week, 8am to 8pm on 0818 222 024 where professional staff will be available to answer questions in relation to the coronavirus, give advice and, where necessary, reassurance.

In this podcast, the seventh in our Seminar Series, we will be revisiting our Annual Social Policy Conference from November 2019, and hearing from Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, on revolutionising ageing at home together and the wonderful supports available from ALONE services.

16. SJI Interviews Ep5: What Women Want, with Catherine Lane, NWCI

March 8th is International Women's Day.  In the latest episode of our podcast, Social Justice Matters, Eamon Murphy sits down with Catherine Lane, Policy Offer with the National Women's Council of Ireland, to discuss the formation of a Programme for Government, progress towards SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and policy priorities to achieve greater gender equality.

15. SJI Seminars Ep6: Charles Clark, St John's Univ, NYC - GDP, its history and limitations

In this episode of our Seminar Series, we give you a chance to listen on the go to a presentation by Professor Charles Clark of St John's University in New York from our 2020 Global Justice Day Conference. 

Professor Clark's presentation focuses on the concept of GDP: it's history, it's limitations, and how it relates to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

A full video of this presentation is available at www.socialjustice.ie

14. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep5: Cost Rental, an introduction

With one in seven of us living in private rented accommodation, and market rents reaching unaffordable levels for many, it's time to take a look at a different approach to renting.

In the 5th episode in the SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst, explains the key points and concepts behind Cost Rental including the what, the why, and how Ireland might learn from other countries who have successfully implemented this model.

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 complex policy areas!

13. SJI Seminars Ep5: Christine Bohan, thejournal.ie - How newsrooms can inform the next Programme for Government

Episode 5 of our Seminars Series features Christine Bohan, deputy editor of The Journal.

Christine discusses what those negotiating the next Programme for Government - whoever they happen to be! - can learn from newsrooms, including how to measure what’s important; why it’s important to have a good team around you; and how to measure what success looks like.

12. SJI Interviews Ep4: Sinead Mercier on a Just Transition

There has been an increasing awareness of the need for Ireland to take decisive action to improve its environmental performance and meet its climate-related targets.

Social Justice Ireland has long been emphasising the need to carry out the necessary changes in a just fashion. This concept has come to be known as “Just Transition”.

In this podcast, Eamon Murphy sits down with Sinéad Mercier, Advisor to the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, to discuss the concept of a Just Transition, including what it is; what its implications are for Ireland; what can we learn from international examples, including in Germany and Australia; and the benefits of allowing communities to lead in relation to climate action.

 

11. SJI Ten Minute Lessons Ep4: Tax Expenditures, an introduction

Tax Expenditures are useful policy tools for government, but have a significant cost attached to them.

In the fourth episode in the SJI's Ten Minute Lessons series, Social Justice Ireland's Economic & Social Analyst Eamon Murphy explains the key points and concepts behind Tax Expenditures, including the what, the why, the costs and effects, and the problems associated with them.

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 complex policy areas!

10. SJI Interviews Ep3: The Politics of Pensions, with Michelle Maher

For years, Social Justice Ireland has been asking government to reduce the tax reliefs for private pension savings, and use the money saved to bolster the State Pension. Despite the huge cost of these tax reliefs and their very unequal nature, the trend in policy over that time has actually been towards greater emphasis on the private pension industry.

What’s influencing these policy decisions? For example, why are we moving towards a system where the pensions industry will receive hundreds of millions in additional subsidies, while the nature of this support is never up for discussion?

Eamon Murphy sat down with Dr. Michelle Maher of Maynooth University to find out. They discussed the politics of pensions, and how it has been possible for a group of people with a particular combination of expertise and access to help shape Ireland’s pension system. The discussion has serious implications for the broader policymaking process.