Social Justice Matters

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."

 

164. SJI Interviews Ep.103: AI with Dr. Patricia Scanlon, Ireland’s AI Ambassador

Dr. Patricia Scanlon is the founder and Executive Chair of SoapBox Labs, now the world's leading provider of Voice AI for children. In 2022, the Irish Government appointed Dr. Scanlon Ireland’s first AI Ambassador. Dr. Scanlon holds a PhD and has 25 years experience working in Artificial Intelligence and speech recognition technology, including at Bell Labs and IBM. She has been granted 7 patents and is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). An acclaimed TEDx speaker, in 2018 Dr. Scanlon was named one of the world’s top 50 women in tech by Forbes and a top “Visionary in Voice” by Voicebot in 2020. She is also a contributor to Forbes, TechCrunch and TheNextWeb.

She chats with Susanne Rogers about the role of AI Ambassador, advances in artificial intelligence, ethics and AI,the opportunities as well as challenges posed by AI and what regulation can bring to the space. 

163. SJI Interviews Ep.102: Double Deficit - Ageing in the Private Rented Sector with Gráinne Loughran (ALONE) and Ann-Marie O’Reilly (Threshold)

We all know that Ireland's population is living longer, which is really good news! However, we need to plan for the needs of our future older people today, particularly in the area of housing. A new report commissioned by ALONE and Threshold, 'Double Deficit: Older and Ageing Persons in the Private Rental Sector', highlights the experience of older people who are renting privately, the impact that this has on their housing security, mental health, and overall quality of life, and makes a series of key recommendations on how Government and stakeholders might learn from these experiences.

Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst with Social Justice Ireland, chats with Gráinne Loughran of ALONE and Ann-Marie O'Reilly of Threshold about this report, their work in the sector generally, and why key reforms are needed now to advance the quality of life of future older generations.

162. SJI Seminars Ep 36: Peter Doran on Wellbeing Narratives: Inciting the Pluriverse on our island of stories – It takes a movement!

Dr Peter Doran is a founding member of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance hub on the island of Ireland and has worked with the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust on a wellbeing outcomes framework for the Northern Ireland Programme for Government. He is a senior lecturer at the School of Law at the Queen's University Belfast and a senior writer with the International Institute for Sustainable Development's reporting services at UN negotiations on environment and development. He has authored numerous articles on ecology and politics, and authored A Political Economy of Attention, Mindfulness and Consumerism - Reclaiming The Mindful Commons (Routledge 2017). A practising zen buddhist, Dr Doran draws heavily from zen and decolonial literature (the pluriverse) in his work on the wellbeing economy.  

Peter spoke at the Social Justice Ireland Annual Social Policy Conference in 2022 on the theme 'Towards Wellbeing For All'. You can also watch his presentation, view his slides and read more here.