Social Justice Matters

174. SJI Seminars Ep.40: Brian Caulfield on Ensuring a just transition and avoiding advanced transport poverty in Ireland

Prof Brian Caulfield is Head of Discipline in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. His research addresses global issues such as the environmental impacts of transport and methods to reduce the carbon impacts of transport. He has published over 200 papers in international journals and conferences and to date has been awarded approx. €7 million in research funding. He currently has 9 PhD students and 6 postdoctoral researchers in his research group.  He is a Senior Editor of Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews and an Editor of Transport Policy. He is a member of the International Editorial Board of Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Case Studies on Transport Policy, the Journal of Cycling and Micro-mobility Research, and the Journal of Transport Geography.

Brian spoke at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference on the theme of A Just Transition. 

All videos, papers and presentations for the 2023 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.

173. SJI Interviews Ep.109: Alicia O'Sullivan & Mohammad Naeem on the UN Youth Delegate Programme

Alicia O'Sullivan & Mohammad Naeem are the UN Youth Delegates for Ireland in 2023/2024. They chat about their journey towards being appointed in the role, what they actually do, their experiences of the UN, would they recommend it and what's next for them. 

UN Summit of the Future. 

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 

UN Youth Delegates for Ireland Instagram. 

 

Comhairle na nÓg are councils for the youth located in 31 locations in the Republic of Ireland, which gives the youth in Ireland the opportunity to be involved in the progress of local services and policies. 

Applications now open: UN Youth Delegate Programme for Ireland 2024-2025. All information must be submitted via the online form below, by 5pm (Irish time) on the 18^th of March 2024. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered. More Here. 

172. SJI Seminars Ep.39: Clodagh Harris on Towards Wellbeing for all - Participatory and deliberative dialogue and the Imagining 2050 Toolkit.

Dr Clodagh Harris is a senior lecturer in the Department of Government & Politics in UCC and affiliate of the Environmental Research Institute and MaREI.  Her research focuses on deliberative and participatory democracy; democratic innovations; and deliberative democracy and climate change. She sits on the expert advisory group of Ireland’s Citizen Assembly on biodiversity loss and is part of a wider consortium funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to design and implement a young persons and children’s assembly on biodiversity loss.  
 

Clodagh presented her paper 'Participatory and deliberative dialogue and the Imagining 2050 Toolkit' at our 2022 Annual Social Policy Conference  'Towards Wellbeing For All'.  

All videos, papers and presentations are for the 2022 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.

171. SJI Seminars Ep.38: Meaghan Carmody on Using the SDGs to solve the just transition Rubik’s Cube

Meaghan is the Coordinator of Coalition 2030 where she supports over 70 Irish Civil Society Organisations in their collaborative efforts to bring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to fruition. She has eight years of experience in the non-profit world pushing for social, environmental and financial justice, while simultaneously developing a skill-set ranging from policy analysis and campaigning, to communications and mobilisation. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Ollscoil na Gaillimhe and a Masters in International Political Economy from University College Dublin. 

 

She spoke at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference on the theme of A Just Transition. 

All videos, papers and presentations for the 2023 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.

 

170. SJI Interviews Ep.108: The Cost of Disability with Fleachta Phelan, Disability Federation of Ireland.

Fleachta Phelan is Senior Policy Advocate with the Disability Federation of Ireland.

She chats with Susanne Rogers about  The Cost of Disability in Ireland – Research Report (The Indecon Report), the history behind it and what we are likely to see next. 

 

Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025

Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Green Paper on Disability Reform – A Public Consultation to Reform Disability Payments in Ireland

The Hidden Cost of Poverty Report

 

169. SJI Seminars Ep.37: Séamus Boland on the Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

Séamus Boland is the CEO of Irish Rural Link and 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.

He spoke at our 2021 Annual Social Policy Conference, Social Rights for All? Time to Deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights.  

All videos, papers and presentations for the 2021 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.

168. SJI Interviews Ep.107: Creating Inclusive Communities with Valerie McAllorum Byrne, Integration Officer, Fingal County Council.

As Ireland becomes more and more diverse, assisting communities to thrive and develop as they adapt is vital. Valerie McAllorum Byrne is Integration Officer with Fingal County Council. She chats with Susanne Rogers about the work she does in this vibrant, diverse growing county to support everyone living there to be part of the community. Learn more about the work HERE.

If you read this on time and live local, Fingal Inclusion week takes place between the 13th and 19th November 2023. Details can be found HERE. 

We discuss the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) Reports which can be accessed HERE. 

167. SJI Interviews Ep.106: Project Real with Dr. Yvonne Skipper

In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats to Dr. Yvonne Skipper of Glasgow University on a brilliant project - Project Real - which provides a full, fun and interactive lesson plan for educators of 11-13 year olds on how to spot fake news, fake photos, fake people, and fake videos. Check it out at www.projectreal.co.uk

This is a really timely interview in light of a recent report which indicated that internet use by Irish children is well above the European average (87% v 62%) with more than half of Irish children using the internet daily or nearly daily - Risks and Safety for Children on the Internet: the Ireland Report (webwise.ie)

166. SJI Interviews Ep.105: Ireland’s Voluntary National Review at the 2023 High Level Political Forum for the SDGs with Coalition 2030

In May 2023, Coalition 2030 published their Report, authored by Sorley McCaughey (independent freelance public affairs, advocacy and communications strategist), 'Furthest Behind First, or Falling Behind Further? The human stories that challenge Ireland’s claims to be leaving no one behind' which can be accessed HERE.

Following on then, in July 2023, a delegation of Coalition 2030 members travelled to the United Nations for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development.

The Coalition 2030 delegation comprised:

• Louise Finan, Head of Policy and Programme, Dóchas
• Dr. Sadhbh O'Neill, Co-ordinator, Stop Climate Chaos
• Belinda Nugent, Community Development Project Leader, Inner City Organisation Network (ICON)
  
• Dr. James Casey, Policy Lead, Independent Living Movement Ireland
• Meaghan Carmody, Co-ordinator, Coalition 2030
• Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland.

The HLPF 2023, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, was held from Monday, 10 July, to Friday, 14 July 2023 in New York. The high-level segment of the Council, including the three-day ministerial segment of the HLPF, was held from Monday, 17 July, to Thursday, 20 July 2023. Ireland presented its second Voluntary National Review during the second week and Dr. James Casey from the delegation responded from the floor of the UN. 

In this episode, we gathered together to discuss the Coalition's Report, Ireland's Voluntary National Review (VNR) and what we brought to and away from the experience. 

Ireland's Second Voluntary National Review 2023 can be accessed HERE.  

Watch Ireland's VNR presentation and the civil society statement read by Dr. James Casey (VNR from 2:40:00, Civil society intervention from 3:18:50, Minister Ryan’s response from 3:32:20) HERE.

Any Irish organisations who would like to know more about Coalition 2030 and get involved can email : infocoalition2030@gmail.com

 

165. SJI Interviews Ep.104: Child Trafficking in Ireland with Ann Mara and J.P. O’Sullivan, MECPATHS.

MECPATHS is the only non-profit organisation in Ireland which focuses specifically on the issue of Child Trafficking.  It works to raise awareness on this hidden issue and educates frontline and emerging professionals to prevent Child Trafficking and enhance existing protective measures.

Education Manager, Ann Mara and Network & Communications Manager, J.P. O’Sullivan chat with Susanne Rogers about the issue of child trafficking in Ireland, how we currently understand it, how the language needs to shift and what supports must be put in place. 

The podcast referenced by J.P.,  "The Witness: In His Own Words" carries the following warning, "there are references throughout this podcast to violence, sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts. If you are negatively affected and need help or advice, please contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s Freephone National 24-Hour Helpline on 1800 77 8888 in Ireland, or call the Samaritans on Freephone 116 123 in Ireland and the UK."