Social Justice Matters: Recent Episodes
Social Justice Ireland
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.
Liam O'Sullivan works as the CEO of Care Alliance Ireland. He holds professional qualifications in Social Work, Youth and Community Work and Social Research. His work with Care Alliance since 2004 has included bringing National Carers Week to Ireland, developing collaborative and impactful relationships with third level institutions in Family Carer research, progressing the development of a Carer Needs Assessment and most recently establishing an innovative Online Family Carer Support Project. He has a particular interest in Implementation Science and in bridging the gap between research policy and practice. Liam has recently co-authored a book about Social Work and Technology, published by the NASW Press.
Liam chats with us about the work of care and the supports provided by the state and what is needed as Ireland's demographic shift takes place.
Some reflections on state supports for family carers over the past 20 years Presentation.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030 was launched at the 2026 Social Inclusion Forum in May. This eagerly awaited renewal of government commitment's to tackle poverty and exclusion is a key document for the Community and Voluntary sector. In this episode, we will hear briefly from each of these organisations about what the Roadmap means for them and their communities.
Care Alliance Ireland Irish Rural Link National Youth Council of Ireland Simon Communities of Ireland ALONE
Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre Irish Traveller Movement National Women's Council of Ireland
National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) Protestant Aid One Family Independent Living Movement Ireland
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) The Wheel AsIAm
Between July and December 2026, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This quick explainer sets out what it is, why it matters, and what Ireland hopes to achieve during its six months at the helm of European decision making.
Tom McDonnell is co-director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute and is based in the Dublin office. In addition to managing staff in the Dublin office he has co-responsibility for the NERI's research programme and for its strategic direction. He is also responsible for, among other things, the NERI's analysis of the Republic of Ireland economy including risks, trends and forecasts. He specialises in economic growth, economics of innovation, Irish and European economies, and fiscal policy. He previously worked as an economist at TASC and before that was a lecturer in economics at NUI Galway and at DCU. He has also taught at Maynooth University (MU) and is currently an occasional staff member at MU.
Tom talks us through the who, what, why, when and where of a wealth tax for Ireland.
Designing a tax on household wealth
Reforming Inheritance Tax
Confronting Wealth Inequality in Ireland Report
We launched our socio-economic review for 2026 on Monday, 27th April 2026. This socio-economic review for 2026 presents ideas and proposals which would enable Ireland to respond to current challenges whilst managing change successfully, with the ambition to achieve a fairer, more just society. At a time of global turmoil and conflict, Ireland faces the challenge of mitigating the impact of an energy price crisis for vulnerable households and preparing for the potential impact of a prolonged energy shock. At the same time, Government must address the ongoing problems of how to deliver housing, healthcare and other vital services to everyone including those fleeing war; how to address persistently high levels of poverty and social exclusion; and how to meet our climate targets, adapt to coming changes whilst protecting those most impacted.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.
Lisa Oelschlegel is the Coordinator of the Alternatives to Violence Project in Ireland, where she supports volunteers delivering workshops in Irish prisons on conflict transformation and nonviolent approaches. She has a background in peace and conflict studies and psychology, and brings over ten years of experience working across international development cooperation, local NGOs, and the academic sector across Europe and Latin America, with a focus on mental health and psychosocial support, migration, gender, inclusion, and diversity. Her work centres on supporting inclusive, community-led approaches to social change.
Robert Cullen is a past participant of the AVP Project. He is currently studying towards an MA in Criminology at UCC and is the project lead for Success Stories in Ireland.
They chat with Susanne Rogers about the work of AVP and the transformative impact it has on individuals and communities. They discuss the systemic and individual responses to how masculinity is to be expressed, how patriarchy and violence interact and how alternatives can be found.
We also touch on Robert's separate work with Success Stories and recent research with the IPRT.
The Alternatives to Violence Project AVP Ireland
Robert was peer researcher on this project with the Irish Penal Reform Trust: From Punishment to Prevention: Poverty, Inequality and Pathways into the Irish Criminal Justice System
Jeremy Moss is Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of New South Wales. He is the recipient of the Eureka Prize for Ethics and the Australasia Association of Philosophy Media Prize. He is the author or several books on climate change including: Carbon Justice: the Scandal of Australia’s Biggest Contribution to Climate Change; Climate Justice Beyond the State (with Lachlan Umbers), Climate Change and Justice (Cambridge University Press). His current projects include: ‘A Just Climate Transition’ (ARC Linkage grant) and ‘Dealing with Climate Disasters’ (ARC Discovery Project).
A Just Climate Transition has the potential to provide significant non-climate related benefits in the form of clean energy, green jobs, better transport, improved health and urban environments or even making society a more equal or democratic place. The creation of so many potential benefits should command just as much attention as avoiding the harms associated with climate change. But the pursuit of such benefits raises two interesting questions. The first is to what degree should transition policies - as a matter of justice - aim at creating non-climate benefits, especially where there are extra costs involved? The second important question is how do we distribute whatever benefits are created? In some cases, there is nothing wrong with letting the benefits fall ‘where they may’ as it were, as is the case with the elimination of air pollution from fossil fuels. But in other instances benefits will be created but how they are distributed will vary greatly, with the potential for unfair distribution.
Social Justice Ireland held a webinar for policy makes and in his talk, Jeremy considers the arguments for the role and scope of non-climate benefits, their justification and put forward a framework that might guide their distribution.
Gillian Phelan is Head of Division, Digital Euro Unit at the Central Bank of Ireland. She chats with Susanne Rogers, explaining what the digital euro is and what it will mean for consumers in Ireland.
Prof. Charles M.A. Clark, St. John’s University, New York presents his section on GDP, Wellbeing and Progress from our Annual Sustainable Progress Index 2026
Stephen Morrison, Policy Lead with Housing Rights and Gareth Redmond, Research and Policy Officer with Threshold
chat with Susanne Rogers about their joint all-island study of the private rental sector Renting on the Island of Ireland: An All-Island Survey of Private Rented Sector Tenants
Our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of ' Managing Change to Build a Just Society'. Ireland is going through several major transitions, each of which is only going to deepen with time. While much is changing, many of the problems facing our society are long-standing: inequality, poverty, and under-investment in our social infrastructure remain major challenges. Although the economy in Ireland has experienced record growth since the pandemic, infrastructure and services in areas such as housing, healthcare and public transport are far below the levels and standards that would be expected in a normally functioning society.
Ciarán Nugent is an Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute.
Ciarán presented his paper at our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2024 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland and Carol Baumann, CEO of Galway Simon Community talk through their recent report : Older Adult Homelessness in Ireland
Information on Simon Communities across Ireland can be found HERE.
Our 2025 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme 'Care in a Changing World', bringing together voices from across the care landscape — carers, advocates, policymakers and organisations — to explore how care, rights and inclusion must evolve in a changing world.
Marianna Baggio is a research officer in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound,working on aspects of the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), as well as on the topics of gender pay transparency and informal care. Prior to joining Eurofound, she served as a policy analyst at the Competence Centre for Behavioural Insights of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. She has worked as a postdoc at the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele (Milan) and the University of Trento. She also brings extensive experience from a previous role as corporate social responsibility (CSR) officer in South Africa. Marianna holds a PhD in Economics and Management from the University of Trento,specialising in behavioural economics.
She presented her paper 'Out of the shadows: Tackling undeclared care work in the EU'.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2025 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
Dr. Naomi Feely is Policy Director with the Children's Rights Alliance.
She chats with Susanne Rogers about two recent documents related to measures tackling Child Poverty in Ireland.
Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2026 to Address Child Poverty and Promote Well-being
Anois an tAm: Breaking Silos, Building Futures: Cross-Sector Action on Child Poverty
In Poverty Focus we examine the nature and experiences of poverty in Ireland. Drawing on the available statistical evidence, we outline how poverty is measured, the value of the poverty line and consider many of the groups in our society who are most exposed to living life below the poverty line. This year we pay particular attention to impact of cost of living pressures.
This episode is a chance to listen back to the webinar launch of the publication which is available HERE.
Our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of ' Managing Change to Build a Just Society'. Ireland is going through several major transitions, each of which is only going to deepen with time. While much is changing, many of the problems facing our society are long-standing: inequality, poverty, and under-investment in our social infrastructure remain major challenges. Although the economy in Ireland has experienced record growth since the pandemic, infrastructure and services in areas such as housing, healthcare and public transport are far below the levels and standards that would be expected in a normally functioning society.
Aoife Ní Lochlainn is Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Irish Environmental Network.
Aoife presented her paper at our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2024 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC is the upcoming 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025.
Our research and policy analyst Michelle Murphy briefly sets out what COP 30 is all about and what outcome is hoped for.
UN Climate Change Conference - Belém, November 2025
Delivering a Just Transition for Ireland: policy options
Steven O’Connell is the founder of Football Cooperative, an award winning social enterprise that places recreational football as a hook to bring men together to get active delivering positive health outcomes. Through a place based model, Football Cooperative incorporates a network of recreational football sites and volunteer Game Coordinators that lead out weekly games year round. Games provide an opportunity for flexible, inclusive, and team based physical activity to form new friendships, share rich game experiences with a competitive edge.
In 2021, Steven led Football Cooperative to form an enterprise academic partnership with South East Technological University that measured the reach and impact of games following the principles of social return on investment. The social value of Football Cooperative was calculated to be for every €1 invested returned a social value of €17.60. As a result of this overwhelming evidence, Steven has engaged multiple key stakeholders to begin scaling up the initiative’s impact to more communities nationally.
Steven chats with us about the power behind a game of football and how it is changing lives.
Website: www.footballcooperative.ie
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/footballcooperative/
Movember - The Real Face of Men's Health Report Ireland 2025
Our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of ' Managing Change to Build a Just Society'. Ireland is going through several major transitions, each of which is only going to deepen with time. While much is changing, many of the problems facing our society are long-standing: inequality, poverty, and under-investment in our social infrastructure remain major challenges. Although the economy in Ireland has experienced record growth since the pandemic, infrastructure and services in areas such as housing, healthcare and public transport are far below the levels and standards that would be expected in a normally functioning society.
Matthew Donoghue is an Assistant Professor of Social Policy, in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin.
Matthew presented his paper at our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2024 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
Dearbháil is the Chief Executive Officer of AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation. AONTAS is an all-island membership based advocacy organisation that was established in 1969. Dearbháil is a passionate advocate and educator who has taught in Community, Further and Higher Education. In 2022, she received a DCU Alumni Award, and she was previously shortlisted for Excellence in Academic Teaching. Dearbháil is undertaking her PhD in Maynooth University looking at working-class women's experiences in adult and community education. She believes that adult learning is the greatest tool for creating positive social change.
Dearbháil chats about what adult and community education is, what it delivers for individuals and communities and AONTAS recent campaigns and research findings.
AONTAS Publications
Community Education: Local, Lifelong, Life Changing Campaign 2025
Learn more at www.aontas.com
John Barry is Professor of Green Political Economy in the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queens University Belfast.
John delivered his paper, 'Just transition: a conflict transformation approach' at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference - A Just Transition - Conference Videos and Papers
Liffey Partnership was established as a response to long term unemployment and poverty. They host and support a wide range of programmes dedicated to employment, education, community, enterprise, parenting, health and wellbeing. The mission is to bring people together to work for a fair and just society for all, aiming to strengthen bonds between individuals and communities and providing a path for diverse voices to be heard, respected, and celebrated.
Anne Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer and Triona O'Sullivan, Health & Inclusion Programmes Manager discuss their recent report - Spinning Plates: Addressing Food Poverty in Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot.
2025 Spinning Plates Summary Report
2025 Spinning Plates Food Poverty in D10 Full Report
Pobal HP Deprivation Index
Our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of ' Managing Change to Build a Just Society'. Ireland is going through several major transitions, each of which is only going to deepen with time. While much is changing, many of the problems facing our society are long-standing: inequality, poverty, and under-investment in our social infrastructure remain major challenges. Although the economy in Ireland has experienced record growth since the pandemic, infrastructure and services in areas such as housing, healthcare and public transport are far below the levels and standards that would be expected in a normally functioning society.
Seán Ó Riain is Professor of Sociology at the National University of Ireland Maynooth.
His research interests are in the sociology of work and employment, comparative political economy, inequality and social change and the global information economy.
Seán is the author of: The Politics of High Tech Growth: Developmental Network States in the Global Economy (Cambridge, 2004) The Rise and Fall of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger: Liberalism, Boom and Bust(Cambridge, 2014) and co-editor of The Changing Worlds and Workplaces of Capitalism (Palgrave, 2015).
He was PI for New Deals in the New Economy, a five year study of workplace bargains in Europe (www.maynoothuniversity.ie/newdeals), funded by a European Research Council Consolidator Grant.
He was a member of the National Economic and Social Council from 2011 to 2017.
Seán presented his paper at our 2024 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2024 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses.
Our podcast is featured as a Best Social Justice podcast on MillionPodcasts - a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts.
Lots of Summer Blockbuster reading! Research and Policy Analysts, Michelle and Susanne briefly chat initial takes on the National Development Plan Review and the Summer Economic Statement.
Summer Economic Statement 2025
National Development Plan Review 2025
Report on Stakeholder Engagement and Emerging Themes on Infrastructure
Budget 2026 Tax Strategy Group papers
NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements
Social Justice Ireland has long advocated that Government should commit to benchmarking core social welfare rates to average earnings to protect vulnerable households. This 10 minute lesson explains why.
Our podcast is featured as a Best Social Justice podcast on MillionPodcasts - a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts.
Fairness must be at the centre of Budget 2026. We are wealthier than at any time in our history, and yet almost 630,000 people are living below the poverty line, 190,000 of whom are children. Over 15,500 people are in emergency homeless accommodation. Now is the time for Government to show ambition in delivering on its promises by running a progressive budget, properly funding public services and infrastructure and investing in policies that will make a positive difference to people and communities.
This episode is a listen back to our Budget Choices 2026 launch. Download the full policy briefing, or take a look at the video HERE.
Dr. Mamobo Ogoro is a Social Psychologist, Scholar, Broadcaster and multi-award winning social entrepreneur. Mamobo’s PhD research focused on migrant identity and how systems of inclusion and exclusion impact belonging for migrant communities. As a result, she founded, and acts as the CEO of GORM, an award winning social enterprise on a mission to unify across differences and advance belonging for marginalised communities through intercultural media and education. Mamobo is an avid conversationalist and sits as the youngest presenter on NewstalkFM, hosting the show ‘Younified’. Mamobo has been heralded for her work with GORM on countless occasions. In 2024 she was listed as the first Echoing Green Fellow in Ireland (Previous fellows include Michelle Obama and Van Jones), and most recently won “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office Award 2025.
Mamobo spends most of her time working with organisations around the world, helping them develop intercultural leaders. She chats with us about belonging, culture, integration, community, story, journeying from tolerance to acceptance and explains peach and coconut countries!
https://www.gormmedia.com/unified-business-programme https://www.gormmedia.com/programmes/the-wideshot
The Programme for Government (PfG)- Securing Our Future, published in January 2025, outlines a series of commitments made by Government across a range of policy areas. Social Justice Ireland welcomed the PfG and believes that it contains several policies and proposals that, if resourced and implemented, would represent a significant step to creating a fairer and more just Ireland. These policies would make a positive difference to society, to our wellbeing and to our communities. However, the programme also contains several causes for concern with a lack of real ambition around poverty and income adequacy and a lack of policy coherence in other areas.
Read the publication and watch the full webinar HERE.
Our podcast is featured as a Best Social Justice podcast on MillionPodcasts - a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts.
William Welser IV is Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Lotic.ai.
As a passionate, curious, and creative technologist, he is dedicated to generating visions for the future that are big, bold, and fearless. In his roles at Lotic, he directs innovation, technology infrastructure, and user experiences.
William has tackled, communicated, and solved complex problems throughout his career using storytelling, multidisciplinary teams of experts, and state of the art methods and technologies. He has a rich history with organizations like the RAND Corporation, where he tackled some of society’s tough challenges, like bias in AI and the evolution of tech landscapes. His efforts have consistently been about bridging tech with social justice, crafting a future where initially impossible ideas become realities and grounded in economic fairness.
William chats with us about wealth, wealth inequality and using data and AI to ultimately create value and make positive change.
TEDxManhattanBeach - Bill Welser - How to ensure Al is a force for good
TEDxPaloAlto - William (Bill) Welser IV - Self-tracking and storytelling to make sense of your world
Our podcast is featured as a Best Social Justice podcast on MillionPodcasts - a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts.
Paul Goldrick Kelly is an economist with the Nevin Economic Research Institute. Paul is a graduate of University College Dublin with a HDIP and MA in Economic Science, Paul's work has examined issues related to healthcare, housing, tax and revenue sufficiency as well as productivity performance in the Republic of Ireland.
Paul's current research interests relate to ecological sustainability and political economy, incorporating issues
related to Just Transition.
Paul presented a paper at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference on the theme of A Just Transition.
Watch the conference HERE.
Our podcast is featured as a Best Social Justice podcast on MillionPodcasts - a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts.
James Casey is a disability rights activist from the west of Ireland. He previously worked for the disabled person’s organisation ILMI as a policy advisor and prior to this role he worked on the transformative EU Onside Project. He holds a PhD in Critical Disability Studies from the University of Galway, where he was the recipient of a Doctoral Teaching Fellowship and he has presented at UN conferences on behalf of civil society. James, a disabled person, has worked as a lecturer, disability equality consultant and communications advisor in addition to his continued role as a peer reviewer with several international journals.
Prompted by Independent Living Day 2025, Susanne and James discuss what that means in reality and what needs to be delivered by policy makers and Government.
Eurofound - Paths towards independent living and social inclusion in Europe
Sage Advocacy - Older Persons in Receipt of Care: Five Human Rights Concerns in Ireland. A Scoping Document
We launched our socio-economic review for 2025 on Thursday, 3rd April 2025. This annual publication is where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society, and a framework for a new Social Contract to move consistently and coherently towards becoming a just society. It also sets out detailed policy proposals grounded in the common good that will deliver improved wellbeing for everyone in society as we manage demographic, climate, digital and geopolitical changes.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.
Marc Ó Cathasaigh is an Educator and SDGs advocate. He was the Green Party T.D. for Waterford in the 33rd Dáil.
Marc chats about his work progressing a Future Generations Commission for Ireland, wellbeing, sustainable development and sufficiency.
Commission for Future Generations Bill 2023
OECD Measuring well-being and progress
Understanding Life in Ireland: The Well-Being Framework 2024
CSO Well-being Information Hub
On the 31st January 2024, Social Justice Ireland hosted The Social Justice Movement–A Fifty Year View conference to mark the retirement of Dr Seán Healy and Sr Brigid Reynolds of Social Justice Ireland and to celebrate their more than fifty years of public service in Ireland and Africa.
The Opening Address was given by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins.
More on that event can be found here.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.
The Shared Island Youth Forum was launched as part of the Government’s Shared Island initiative, in September 2023. The Forum brought together 80 young people aged 18 to 25 from across the island, who met over the next year to develop a statement of their vision and values for a shared future on the island of Ireland.
Four members of the Shared Island Youth Forum, Eden Byrne, Tiarnan Moss from Co-Operation Ireland, Alannah Wrynn and Charlie Beaudelot generously took time out to chat with Susanne Rogers about their experiences in the Youth Form and their work on the Statement.
Read the Vision and Values Statement HERE.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.
Our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of 'A Just Transition'. The fundamental principle of a Just Transition is to leave no people, communities, economic sectors or regions behind as we transition to a low carbon future. Such a transition means changing how we travel, communicate, work, what we eat, wear and even the entertainment we consume.
Joe presented his paper at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2023 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.
Government's plan for the next 5 years has been published - Programme for Government 2025 : Securing Ireland’s Future
Research and Policy Analysts Michelle Murphy and Susanne Rogers chat about preliminary thoughts and reactions.
More on Social Justice Ireland's response HERE.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.
Our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference was on the theme of 'A Just Transition'. The fundamental principle of a Just Transition is to leave no people, communities, economic sectors or regions behind as we transition to a low carbon future. Such a transition means changing how we travel, communicate, work, what we eat, wear and even the entertainment we consume.
Dr Shane Colclough DipEE, BSc(Eng), MIE, MBA, PhD, MIEI, C.Eng, EurIng is a Chartered Engineer and carries out research at The School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin and at the Centre for sustainable technologies in Ulster University. He is also principal at the consultancy firm Energy Expertise Limited. His research area of interest for the past 10 years has focused on low-energy dwellings in Temperate Maritime Climates and Building Performance Evaluation. He believes passionately in the potential afforded by the low-energy building standards in providing a better standard of housing for our citizens, simultaneously reducing Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels and eliminating fuel poverty. He is co-chairman of the Passive House Association of Ireland and has authored papers on the topic of passive houses & energy storage in addition to presenting at national and international conferences. He is an experienced consultant and serves in the EU as an Expert on Energy-Efficient Buildings.
Shane presented his paper at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2023 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the 35 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2025. Check out the list here.
The Just Transition Commission is an advisory body established by Government in April 2024. Michelle Murphy, research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland has been appointed to the Commission. In this episode, she explains what that means and the aims and objectives of the Commission.
At our conference to mark the retirement of Seán Healy and Brigid Reynolds in January 2024, Dermot McCarthy presented a paper entitled 'The impact of social justice advocacy: a policy maker’s reflections'.
To watch that presentation or any of the other speakers, the full conference is available here.
Dr. Daithí Kearney is an Ethnomusicologist, geographer and performer. He is a lecturer in music, theatre and tourism and co-director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology. His research is primarily focused on Irish traditional music but extends to include performance studies, community music and music tourism. Daithí has toured regularly as a musician, singer and dancer with a number of groups including Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland. In 2012 he released an album with Cork accordion player John Cronin entitled Midleton Rare, which is related to a wider research project on the music and musicians of the Sliabh Luachra region. In 2017 he released an album of new compositions with Dr Adèle Commins entitled A Louth Lilt. Their compositions also feature on the 2020 recording by Ceolta Sí entitled Oidhreacht Eochaille and are regularly performed by the award-winning Oriel Traditional Orchestra, of which they are both musical directors.
Dr. Kevin Burns is Head of Department (Acting) Dept of Hospitality Management at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Kevin is skilled in Hospitality Industry, Tourism Management, Social Media, and Training with a Doctor of Hospitality and Tourism Management focused on Tourist Behaviour from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Daithí and Kevin chat with Susanne Rogers about what we mean by the night time economy, who it's for, who it impacts and what we would like to see coming in the future, particularly outside the major cities and towns.
Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce
At our conference to mark the retirement of Seán Healy and Brigid Reynolds in January 2024, Dr Catherine Kavanagh and Dr Micheál Collins presented a paper, 'Income Inequality and Poverty: A fifty year view'.
To watch their presentation or any of the other speakers, the full conference is available here.
Aileen is the Senior Research & Evaluation Manager at ALONE. Prior to joining ALONE, Aileen worked at Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, where her efforts played a critical role in the development of youth mental health services globally. Holding a PhD in psychology, she possesses a strong academic foundation that complements her practical experience. She has published research findings in reputable journals and has presented her work at numerous international conferences (see: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aileen-Oreilly-2).
Seán is Chief Executive Officer of Alone. After a career within the private sector, Seán moved to the NGO sector 20 years ago, working as Head of Housing and then Director of Service for the Simon Community. He went on to work as a Project Manager and consultant , working with many NGOs for a number of years before becoming Chief Executive of ALONE. Seán has also been involved in multiple national oversight groups, and has played a role in influencing social and health policies for older people on housing, loneliness, and ageing at home, in order to meet emerging needs of an ageing population. He has played a key role in advocating and developing services for and with older people, particularly those who are medically or socially vulnerable and whose voices and views often go unheard.
Seán and Aileen chat with Susanne Rogers about their work, what we understand as loneliness, why it is damaging and what we can do about it.
ALONE ECC Report
HALO Report
Loneliness Taskforce Research Network website
Loneliness Taskforce report
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) Report - Social disconnection correlates of a ‘Wish to Die’ among a large community-dwelling cohort of older adults
EU-wide survey on loneliness
Raili Lahnalampi is Ambassador of Finland to Ireland. She served as the Chief of Cabinet for the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2015 -2019. She was responsible for the foreign and security policy and for the relations with other ministries, state administration and representatives of other countries. Ms Lahnalampi has held various international positions and she has a strong background in foreign and security policy. Before having been nominated as Chief of Cabinet Ms Lahnalampi worked as the Counsel to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Finland. She has pursued a diplomatic carrier at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs over ten years and has served as an advisor to the Secretary-General of OECD and to the President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Harri Holkeri. After graduating from the University of Turku Law School (LL.M) Ms Lahnalampi continued her studies achieving a diploma in European integration from the University of Saarland and followed international and human rights law studies at the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Raili spoke at our 2022 Annual Social Policy Conference on the theme of Towards Wellbeing For All.
All videos, papers and presentations are for the 2022 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
James Casey is a disability rights activist from the west of Ireland. He previously worked for the disabled person’s organisation ILMI as a policy advisor and prior to this role he worked on the transformative EU Onside Project. He holds a PhD in Critical Disability Studies from the University of Galway, where he was the recipient of a Doctoral Teaching Fellowship and he has presented at UN conferences on behalf of civil society. James, a disabled person, has worked as a lecturer, disability equality consultant and communications advisor in addition to his continued role as a peer reviewer with several international journals.
Make Way Day 2024
ILMI - A Manifesto for Change Disabled People Taking Control
Research and Policy Analysts Michelle Murphy and Susanne Rogers chat through the key asks that will deliver for communities in Budget Choices 2025.
EnergyCloud work to create solutions to divert surplus renewable energy - which would otherwise be wasted - to Irish homes, with a primary focus on those in fuel poverty.
Derek Roddy is co-founder and CEO of climote, a home energy management company. He is a manufacturing and process engineer who represented Ireland in the World Skill Olympics. He developed a strong interest in the challenges of global warming. climote was established to provide technology solutions that manage energy consumption and allow users to transition from fossil fuel to zero carbon renewable energy. climote partners with ESB Networks, SSE, Scottish Power, and Power NI to deliver low-cost de-carbonization technologies to millions of homes. Prior to climote, Derek was co-founder of Smarthomes, Ireland's largest home technology company. A serial entrepreneur, he is passionate about social enterprise and building teams that can help make a real difference to people's lives.
He chats with Susanne Rogers about the work of Energycloud, the solutions to energy poverty it provides and how to scale up.
Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst and Mansi Rawat, Economic and Social Analyst chat with Susanne Rogers about the key infrastructure asks in Budget Choices 2025.
100 Years of Irish Housing
Nat O’Connor is lecturer in social policy in UCD’s School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and part-time policy specialist at Age Action Ireland. He has taught politics and social policy since 1999. He has a PhD in political science from Trinity College Dublin and a MA in political science and social policy from the University of Dundee. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), a member of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and chairperson of the Irish Social Policy Association (ISPA). You can find him on LinkedIn (natoconnor) and TwitterX @natpolicy
Nat chats with Susanne Rogers about the impetus, reasoning and content in his recent report Ireland’s Public Spending Explained 2024
Research and Policy Analysts Michelle Murphy and Susanne Rogers chat through the key asks for Rural Ireland and the environment in Budget Choices 2025.
Our Just Transition Policy Paper - 'Delivering a Just Transition for Ireland: Policy Options'
Gareth Redmond is Research and Policy Officer with Threshold Ireland. He chats with Susanne Rogers about findings in the most recent We are Generation Rent - Threshold's Annual Tenant Sentiment Survey 2024.
Simon Talks Webinar - Joined Up Thinking: Proposals on Social Housing Reform from the Housing Commission
Book - Out of Reach - Inequalities in the Irish Housing System
Report of The Housing Commission
ESRI Report - Poor housing conditions harm family wellbeing
Security and Agency in the Irish Private Rental Sector
Research and Policy Analysts Michelle Murphy and Susanne Rogers chat through the key social welfare asks in Budget Choices 2025.
Carrie Ann Moran is Consultant and Founder of Circular Fashion Ireland and Director at Fashion Revolution Europe. She is an award-winning Irish social entrepreneur, recognised nationally as a leading voice on circular fashion. For over 15 years, Carrie Ann has pushed sustainable fashion in Ireland, gaining recognition for her industry perspective and her pragmatic approach to embedding sustainability and circularity themes into the mainstream. She holds an honours degree in Law, Dip in Fashion, Post Grad Environmental Management and an MSc in Environmental Sustainability. She is also the country coordinator for Fashion Revolution Ireland annual campaign and was previously appointed to the National Advisory Committee of the Irish Government for the implementation of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. In 2020 Carrie was appointed by the European Commission as a judge on the European Social Innovation Competition “Reimagine Fashion”.
Carrie Ann’s expertise span numerous fields from lecturing, fashion design, environmental management, sustainability and labour rights. She is committed to bringing awareness of the environmental impacts and ethics within the fashion industry and works towards circularity and transparency.
Carrie Ann’s recently published research: The challenge of “Depeche Mode” in the fashion industry – Does the industry have the capacity to become sustainable through circular economic principles?
Carrie Ann presented her paper at our 2023 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations for the 2023 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
David Lohan is an engineer from Galway, living in Cork. He has a research interest in human trafficking and modern slavery. His latest work is a book entitled At Freedom's Crossroads: Making Sense of Modern Slavery. The book is available in print and eBook formats. More Here.
GRETA – the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Global Slavery Index
2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Ireland
We launched our socio-economic review for 2024 on Thursday, 2nd May 2024. This annual publication is where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society; and a policy framework to move consistently and coherently towards that society.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.
Fionnaigh Connaughton-O'Connor has worked for over 20 years as an adult literacy tutor, tutor trainer and most recently voter education. She works for Dublin Adult Learning Centre (DALC). DALC provide targeted adult education services to ensure that everyone in the inner city has the opportunity to avail of their right to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. DALC’s core values are student centredness, empowerment, inclusivity and transformative learning. They are committed to social change, justice and equality. In her experience, people with literacy difficulties or people who are excluded and margainalised are often not registered to vote and do not exercise their right to vote. We believe that education is empowering and helps people reach their potential to participate fully in society. Exercising your right to vote is essential to this. Fionnaigh has also been involved in projects for NALA (literacy publications and prison education). Committed to equality, education and including all in the democratic process in Ireland. Fionnaigh discusses the origins and content of the Active Citizenship Voter Education programme, why it's needed and the impact it has. More Information here: https://www.vote.ie/ Electoral / An Coimisiún Toghcháin CampaignAdvertAdvert Advert Check the Register Hope and Courage Collective Your Voice, Your Vote: Voter Education & Active Citizenship INOU Analysis Active Citizenship Voter Education Course in Dublin - Adult Literacy for Life
The All Together in Dignity (ATD) Ireland team are Paul Uzell, Tara Doherty and National co-ordinator, Dann Kenningham. Paul and Dann chat about the origins, aims and core work of the organisation and the #Add the 10th campaign to see socio- economic status recognised as the tenth ground of discrimination in Irish equality legislation.
ATD Ireland
Add the 10th Campaign
Breaking Barriers Report
Walking, Thinking and Talking Research Project
ATD Toolkit to Conducting Participatory Research
Epistemic injustice (the injustice of knowledge)
ATD Ireland Presentation of Hidden Dimensions of Poverty International Research to the World Bank Feb 2024
ATD Research on The Hidden Dimensions of Poverty
More on Father Joseph Wresinski
ATD International
A chance to listen back to Social Justice Ireland's paper, 'Delivering Social Rights for Ireland' presented by Economic and Social Analyst, Colette Bennett at our 2021 Annual Social Policy Conference.
All videos, papers and presentations are for the 2021 Annual Social Policy conference are available for download HERE.
Khalil Moran is pursuing a PhD in Democratic Economic Solutions to Inequality, with a specific focus on Community Wealth Building, an approach coined in Cleveland in the US and Preston in the UK. They have a particular interest in the interplay between our intra and interpersonal skills, theories of learning and how they impact our communication, and the systems and institutions we shape and are shaped by. Khalil has been a staff member at Wicklow Democratic School since it opened in 2016 and was the Project Coordinator for two years. They currently work on the WDS staff team as a facilitator to the school’s facilitators, supporting with research, activity plans, systemization and culture building, course development, and overall strategy for the school's continued development of democratic education. Khalil chats about the history of Community Wealth Building with examples from the U.K. and U.S.A. , the benefits and challenges of the approach and how it might work in an Irish context. The People’s Transition Democracy Collective Action guide for advancing Community Wealth Building in the United States Community wealth building 2023 Preston City Council: What is Community Wealth Building Solidnetwork.ie Social Justice Matters Podcast episode with Daniel Lambert CEO Bohemians Football Club
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.
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 18th of March 2024. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered. More Here.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
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
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."
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.
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.
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.
In this week's episode, Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst, chats with Paul Goldrick Kelly, Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) about his latest blog on carbon locks. What they are, where they are, and what needs to be done to progress towards a real just transition.
If you're not familiar with their work, check out NERI's website - www.neriinstitute.net - and subscribe to their regular blog.
Niamh Moore-Cherry is Professor in the School of Geography, Deputy College Principal in the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law, and Honorary Professor at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. Her research is focused on understanding governance and the impact of territorial politics on urban and regional outcomes. She founded and leads the Cities, Governance and Sustainability (www.citiesgovernancesustainability.eu) research group in UCD which brings together academic, policy and community engaged work. In summer 2022, she was appointed as an independent member of the advisory National Economic and Social Council (NESC) by An Taoiseach.
She chats with Susanne Rogers about what the 15 minute city is and is not, the challenges and possibilities for the concept in the Irish context.
Due to a technical glitch when we launched our Budget Choices 2024 policy briefing on Monday, 3rd July 2023, our launch did not record. But don't worry! We've recorded a podcast covering all of the relevant details from the launch, including your great questions. We hope you enjoy it.
Budget Choices 2024 is available to download here: Budget Choices 2024 | Social Justice Ireland
Issy Petrie is Research and Policy Officer with the Society of St.Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Nicola Fox is National Development Officer with Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). They chat with Susanne Rogers about energy poverty in Ireland, who is affected, what supports are available and policy asks into the future.
Find out more about SVP HERE.
Find out more about MABS HERE.
In this week's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Amanda Roberts and Avril Easton of the Irish Hospice Foundation on their research looking at the financial impact of bereavement. An estimated 300,000 people every year are impacted by bereavement and many of those will struggle, not just with the emotional fall-out, but the financial impact too.
If you want to start planning for your future, the Irish Hospice Foundation have a brilliant tool to help: Think_Ahead_Editable.pdf (hospicefoundation.ie)
If you or someone you know has been bereaved, the Irish Hospice Foundation have a range of supports: Irish Hospice Foundation - To Die and Grieve Well Wherever the Place
In this episode, Colette Bennett welcomes back Keith Adams, Penal Policy Advocate in Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice and Doctoral candidate at Leuven Institute of Criminology. It will come as no surprise that we're talking all things prisons - the latest scandals, the unpublished reports, and what really needs to be done if the criminal justice system is to work effectively.
If you want to learn more about Keith's work, check out www.jcfj.ie to read his many articles and publications, and check out the work of his colleagues across a range of areas too.
Social Justice Ireland is a member of the Roundtable on Migration in Our Common Home, a collective of organisations and individuals concerned about the shape of migration policy in Ireland and internationally. To date, three papers have been published which you can access below. Colette Bennett is one of Social Justice Ireland's representatives at the Roundtable and chats with Susanne Rogers about the work of the collective, gives a brief overview of the first two papers, sets out the current context and recommendations for the future.
Migrations in Our Common Home: Forecasting for Change
Planning for Change: Climate Change and Migration
Migrations in Our Common Home: Responding with Care - Ireland's response to the Ukrainian crisis
We launched our socio-economic review for 2023 on Monday, 8th May 2023. This annual publication is where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society; and a policy framework to move consistently and coherently towards that society.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.
Michelle Murphy talks to Dr Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies about the Good Friday Agreement, the work of the centre and explores challenges to and opportunities for cross border cooperation.
Tomorrow, April 21st 2023, marks Ireland's Country Overshoot Day. To explain what that means and Earth Overshoot Day, Dr. Alessandro Galli, Senior Scientist and Director of the Mediterranean-MENA Program with the Global Footprint Network chats with Susanne Rogers about how this date is worked out, Ireland's country date and some of their policy proposals to help ensure we #movethedate.
Find your country's Overshoot Day HERE.
Calculate your Footprint HERE.
Links to Educational Resources mentioned HERE and HERE.
More information on next steps and solutions HERE.
Find the Human Development Index graph Alessandro mentioned HERE.
In this episode of our 10 Minute Lessons series, Research and Policy Analyst, Susanne Rogers looks at lobbying in Ireland. Find out more information and see what your obligations may be at Lobbying.ie.
Carrie Exton is the Acting Senior Counsellor and Deputy Director at the OECD Centre for Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE). Her team helps to build the evidence base for WISE policy-making, including the development of frameworks and indicators, and their roles in supporting government decisions.
Carrie spoke at the Social Justice Ireland Annual Social Policy Conference in 2022 on the theme 'Towards Wellbeing For All' about the OECD's approach. You can also watch her presentation, view her slides and read more here.
Plain Numbers is a UK based organisation working with firms to support their customers who struggle with numbers. Their founder Mike Ellicock is a social entrepreneur focused on running organisations that support people who struggle with numbers and data. He launched National Numeracy as founding Chief Executive in 2012, building the organisation from little more than an idea to become a well-respected national charity with strong evidence of impact. The seeds of the idea for Plain Numbers were sown at National Numeracy. Having handed over as Chief Executive there in 2020, Mike is now utilising his unparalleled knowledge of this largely hidden consumer vulnerability to work with firms to enable people to make informed decisions across all areas of their lives.
Mike chats with Susanne Rogers about the work of Plain Numbers, touching on their research findings, the positive impacts on individuals when organisations change their approach to financial information, especially in an increasingly complicated and fast moving area.
You can learn more about the research here: Plain Numbers Project: Initial trials report
The numeracy challenge Mike mentions can be found here: nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge/
Following on from last week's 10 minute lesson, analysts with Social Justice Ireland, Michelle Murphy, Colette Bennett and Susanne Rogers unpack the numbers contained in the Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2022.
The conversation touches on the cohorts most at risk, what impacts poverty and deprivation have on those cohorts and the policy proposals made by Social Justice Ireland that Government could take on board if they are serious about tackling poverty in Ireland in 2023.
On the 22nd February 2023, the Central Statistics Office released the results of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2022. These data provide the most up to date information on income, poverty, and living conditions across a range of different households in Ireland.
In this episode of our 10 Minute Lessons series, Economic and Social Analyst, Colette Bennett, goes through the numbers and provides an overview of poverty and deprivation in Ireland today.
Carrie-Ann Moran is an award-winning Irish social entrepreneur, recognised nationally as a leading voice on circular fashion. For over 15 years, Carrie Ann has pushed sustainable fashion across the private and third sectors in Ireland, serving as sustainability manager for multiple small brands, Head of Fashion and Textiles for Rediscovery Centre Ireland, Director of Fashion Revolution Ireland and now Founder and lead consultant at Circular Fashion Ireland. She has served on the National Advisory Committee of the Irish Government for the implementation of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy and as a judge on the European Commission’s Social Innovation Competition “Reimagine Fashion”.
She chats with Susanne Rogers about the global fashion industry, the impact it has on emissions and how we all, individual and industry can move from the linear model to a circular model.
Here are the links Carrie-Ann mentions in the conversation -
Textile Mountain Documentary
https://www.fashionrevolution.org/
https://issuu.com/fashionrevolution/docs/fr_fanzine_001_moneyfashionpower/12
https://www.epa.ie/publications/circular-economy/resources/Nature-and-Extent-of-Post-Consumer-Textiles-in-Ireland---Study-Report.pdf
Dr. Stuart Stamp is an Independent Social Researcher and Research Associate of the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University. His main areas of interest are personal overindebtedness and financial exclusion from an inequality and human rights perspective.
Paul Joyce, BL, works as Senior Policy Analyst with Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC). He is the author of both of FLAC major reports on debt and the legal system in Ireland, ‘An End based on Means’ published in May 2003 and ‘To No One’s Credit’ published in July 2009, and numerous policy reports and submissions.
Paul and Stuart chat with Susanne Rogers about four papers they have written, From Pillar to Post. They examine the current situation for those dealing with problem debt, both secured and unsecured, the solutions that are available and what changes are needed.
The Papers can be accessed here:
Paper One.
Paper Two.
Paper Three.
Paper Four.
Alternative facts, fake news and conspiracies - why does there seem to be more of it about? What's the difference between mis-information and dis-information? Are there reasons some of us are more likely to believe the hype than others? And when it comes to dangerous dis-information - what can policymakers do to combat it?
In this week's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Daniel Jolley, an Assistant Professor in Social Psychology at the University of Nottingham. Daniel has spent his career looking at the psychology of conspiracy theories, a topic that has gained prominence in recent years.
If you would like to know more about Daniel and his work, check out is website www.danieljolley.co.uk.
To try the Conspiracy Generator mentioned by Daniel, and to see just how easy it is to generate a conspiracy, check out this website by Professor Karen Douglas: Conspiracy generator demonstrates how easily conspiracy theories originate - News Centre - University of Kent
Sarah Barrington is an engineer, Data Scientist and graduate researcher at the UC Berkeley School of Information. Her research interests span across computer vision, artificial intelligence, decentralized technologies and digital forensics. She graduated from Cambridge University with First Class Honors in General & Manufacturing Engineering (BA, MEng, MA), before working at McLaren Applied as an Associate Engineer & Data Scientist in the Modelling & Decision Sciences function. She is the current US-UK Fulbright award holder for Data and Analytics (2021-22).
She chats with Susanne Rogers about blockchain technologies, the evolution to crypto and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), regulation or lack of and what the future may hold.
Dr. Larry O’Connell is the Director of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), and Chief Officer of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO). As senior economist in NESC, since 2007, he worked on a range of policy areas including Ireland’s transition to low-carbon and digital future; housing and land; climate change and sustainable development; higher education funding; and Ireland’s five part crisis.
Anne-Marie McGauran is Policy Analyst with NESC. Her work focuses on equality and social issues. In NESC, she led the 2021 projects on digital inclusion, and the roll-out of the Community Call initiative to support vulnerable people during Covid-19 lockdowns. In 2022, she led the project looking at how well-being policies are implemented internationally. She is currently working on the NESC project on Ireland’s economic resilience and vulnerability, looking at social vulnerabilities.
They presented their paper, Ireland’s Wellbeing Journey, co-written with Helen Johnston, Senior Policy Analyst, NESC, at our 2022 Annual Social Policy Conference on the theme 'Towards Wellbeing For All'. The videos, graphics and papers for the conference can all be accessed Here.
Gabriel Makhlouf is the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, taking up that position on 1 September 2019. He chairs the Central Bank Commission, is a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, a member of the European Systemic Risk Board, and is Ireland's Alternate Governor at the International Monetary Fund.
Before joining the Central Bank Gabriel was Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury and the Government's chief economic and financial adviser from 2011 to 2019. During his time as Secretary, he led reviews of New Zealand's three macroeconomic pillars (monetary, financial stability and fiscal policy) and the development of a new framework for the development of economic and public policy focused on intergenerational wellbeing.
He spoke at the Annual Social Policy Conference 2022 on the theme of 'Towards Wellbeing for All'. The videos, graphics and papers for the conference can all be accessed Here.
Michelle Murphy talks to Clare O’Connor, Energy Policy Officer with Friends of the Earth about climate change, climate action, protecting the vulnerable and COP27.
At the end of October 2022, the Living Wage Technical Group launched the Living Wage of €13.85 for 2022/2023. The Living Wage is a wage which makes possible a minimum acceptable standard of living and is evidence based and grounded in social consensus.
Two members of the group, Robert Thornton, Research Manager at Vincentian MESL Research Centre and Ciarán Nugent, Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute explain how the figure is arrived at and why it matters.
At the end of October 2022, the Living Wage Technical Group launched the Living Wage of €13.85 for 2022/2023. The Living Wage is a wage which makes possible a minimum acceptable standard of living and is evidence based and grounded in social consensus.
Two members of the group, Robert Thornton, Research Manager at Vincentian MESL Research Centre and Ciarán Nugent, Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute explain how the figure is arrived at and why it matters.
Kathleen Moran is Chairperson of the School Libraries Group of the Library Association of Ireland to talk about school libraries in Ireland. She chats to Michelle Murphy about the importance of school libraries and school librarians, and what needs to be done to ensure every child and young person in Ireland has access to a fully staffed school library.
Hugh Frazer is an expert on European policies to combat poverty and social exclusion, especially child poverty. He played a lead role in the feasibility studies that contributed to the establishment of the European Child Guarantee. He has acted as adviser to a wide range of national and European organisations ( ESN, Eurochild, EAPN and UNICEF). He is a former coordinator of the European Social Policy Network (2006-2019); worked as an expert on social inclusion policy in the European Commission (2001-2006); was director of the Irish government's Combat Poverty Agency (1987-2001) and was director of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (1979-1986 – now the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland). He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University (Ireland).
We can listen back to Hugh presenting his paper for the Social Justice Ireland's 34th Annual Social Policy Conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights, "How the European Pillar of Social Rights can help to advance social policy in Ireland ".
All the Papers and Videos from the Conference can be accessed HERE.
Barbara Nolan is Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland. She chats to Michelle Murphy about the State of the European Union Address 2022, what the main themes were in this year’s address and what they mean for policy direction in the European Union and in Ireland.
Stuart Hamilton is the Head of Libraries Development for the Local Government Management Agency. He is the national advisor on libraries in the local government sector and leads the strategic development and implementation of service innovation and change management. He chats with Susanne Rogers about the importance of libraries to communities across the country, how they adapted to the pandemic, the move from analogue to digital, challenges to access of information and what lies ahead.
Find out more about your local library in Ireland HERE.
Budget 2023 is just around the corner. In the latest episode of our Ten Minute Lessons series, we talk about what the Budget is, 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.
Our Budget Choices 2023 Policy Briefing can be found HERE.
We are delighted that Social Justice Matters has been recognised by FeedSpot as one of the 40 social justice podcasts you should be following in 2022. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
To mark United Nations International Day of Democracy,Paul Gordon chats with Susanne Rogers about the Vote at 16 campaign. Paul is Director of Policy and Advocacy with the National Youth Council of Ireland. We chat about the reasoning behind the campaign, experiences in other jurisdictions, the movement in Ireland and next steps.
Aisling O'Hara is Service Manager for Youth Services & Community Based Housing with Galway Simon Community. Galway Simon Community provide support and accommodation services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the West of Ireland.
Aisling chats with Susanne Rogers about youth homelessness, the impacts on young people, the care and resources required and ideally what needs to be included in the Youth Homelessness Strategy.
Aisling O'Hara is Service Manager for Youth Services & Community Based Housing with Galway Simon Community. Galway Simon Community provide support and accommodation services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the West of Ireland.
Aisling chats with Susanne Rogers about youth homelessness, the impacts on young people, the care and resources required and ideally what needs to be included in the Youth Homelessness Strategy.
Matt Shields, Country Manager for Parkrun Ireland chats with Susanne Rogers about the evolution of this community and volunteer led initiative. Matt Shields brought Parkrun to Ireland and has watched it grow and spread to 134 varied and diverse communities with more being added all the time. We talk about the physical and mental health benefits of exercise and volunteering that the Parkrun community experiences and what lies ahead for 2022.
Ana M. Guillén is Professor of Sociology at the University of Oviedo, Spain, and director of the PROMEBI research group, Promoting Work and Welfare in Europe. She acts as a consultant to the European Commission and the International Labour Organization. She is also a member of the Scientific Board of the Observatoire Social Européen (OSE, Brussels) and of the International Social Security Association.
Maria Petmesidou is Emeritus Professor at Democritus University, Greece. She served as Chair of the Sociology Department of Crete University as well as of the Department of Social Administration (renamed Social Policy Department) of Democritus University. For several years she was fellow/scientific committee member of CROP (Comparative Research on Poverty) sponsored by the International Social Science Council (UNESCO) and the University of Bergen.
We can listen back to Ana and Maria presenting their joint paper for the Social Justice Ireland's 34th Annual Social Policy Conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights, "A Greener and more Social Pillar".
All the Papers and Videos from the Conference can be accessed HERE.
The SHE Project is a collaboration between the Women’s Manifesto Project (a Longford Women’s Link programme) and 50:50 North West, organisations with strong links at grassroots level. A unique project, it is ‘ploughing new furrows’ in developing an innovative rural strategy to ensure women from our rural constituencies gain their rightful place on our councils and in Dáil Eireann.
In this week's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Michelle Maher on all things female participation, the role of women in local government and why she's so passionate about this project (and she really, really is!).
For more information on this brilliant initiative, go to www.seeherelected.ie
Budget 2023 should be guided by one core principle, that the measures adopted prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable groups in our society. To this end Budget 2023 should prioritise continued strategic investment in long-term infrastructure projects focused on social housing provision and achieving our committed climate change targets alongside targeted cost of living measures.
The fiscal context for Budget 2023 is one of the most difficult in some time due to an uncertain social and economic outlook. The Budget must respond to the current cost of living challenges but also recognise uncertainties regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its legacy effects, geopolitical instability as a result of war in Ukraine, and an ongoing cost of living crisis through 2022 and 2023.
Regardless of fiscal uncertainty, Government must prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable in making its Budgetary decisions.
This episode is a listen back to our Budget Choices 2023 launch. To download the full policy briefing, or take a look at the video, go to our website https://www.socialjustice.ie/publication/budget-choices-2023-policy-briefing
The National Economic Dialogue 2022 took place in Dublin Castle on Monday, 20th June. Social Justice Ireland were in attendance, CEO, Seán Healy, Research and Policy Analyst, Michelle Murphy and Economic and Social Analyst, Colette Bennett. They chat with Research and Policy Analyst, Susanne Rogers about the background of the event, who participates, what happens on the day, our policy asks and the benefits of dialogue.
More information about this year's National Economic Dialogue can be found HERE.
This week's episode is a conversation between Susanne Roger and Karla Rogožar. Karla is the Project Assistant at IMPALA, the Independent Music Companies Association, representing nearly 6000 music companies across Europe. Karla is the coordinator of IMPALA’s sustainability task force and climate analysis group, gathered under a 15-point charter that the organisation released in early 2021. IMPALA also has a sustainability programme with voluntary targets for members, find out more about it here and discover more about their carbon calculator made with Julie’s Bicycle (the first bespoke tool in the sector) here. They chat about IMPALA, the 15 point climate charter, the vinyl resurgence and climate action for the music industry.
This week, Susanne Rogers chats with Nora Condon, Senior Data Analyst with Solas about lifelong learning and gaining skills for life and work. The world of work is changing with green and digital transitions and as we live longer, we may work for longer. We need access to upskilling and reskilling in order to benefit from these opportunities and deal with the challenges.
SOLAS is the State agency tasked with building a world class Further Education and Training (FET) sector to fuel Ireland’s future. All their work can be accessed HERE. We discuss these three reports specifically Lifelong Learning Women on home duties Moving on up.
Further information about courses and options for learning can be found here: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/ and https://smartchoices.ie/
Liina Carr was re-elected ETUC Confederal Secretary in 2019, having first been elected in 2015. Her responsibilities at ETUC include macroeconomic policy, economic governance and the European Semester, the European Pillar of Social Rights, social protection, external relations, implementation of UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in the EU and development cooperation, as well as human resources. Liina has been a member of the European Economic and Social Committee since 2004.
We can listen back to Liina presenting her paper for the Social Justice Ireland's 34th Annual Social Policy Conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights, "The role of the European Trade Union Confederation in delivering the EU Pillar of Social Rights".
All the Papers and Videos from the Conference can be accessed HERE.
There have been a number of reports recently of issues and complaints in Dóchas, the women's prison in the Mountjoy campus in Dublin. In this week's episode, Colette Bennett discusses these issues, the lack of transparency and the Government's decision not to publish reports of the Inspector of Prisons, as well as how the narrative to end violence against women leaves many behind.
Social Justice Ireland is a key partner in a Masters programme that is run in conjunction with the Waterford IT campus of the new South East Technological University and delivered in Dublin city. This programme is called the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy.
This is our second special episode of Social Justice Matters and it should be of great interest to anyone considering enrolling in this MA. The episode is anchored by MA Programme Leader Dr. Paul Clogher of WIT, and includes information on the evolution of the programme and the major ideas and themes behind.
We also hear from Dr. Susan Flynn, Head of the Department of Arts, Dr. Hazel O'Brien, Department of Arts, Dr. Seán Healy, CEO, Social Justice Ireland and we get the student experience of the programme from recent graduate Susanne Rogers, who also works for Social Justice Ireland as a research and policy analyst.
More details about this programme are available here: https://www.wit.ie/courses/ma-in-social-justice-and-public-policy
The Children's Rights Alliance published its Report Card 2022 in February of this year (Report Card 2022 | Children's Rights Alliance (childrensrights.ie)) "the second analysis of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party’s joint Programme for Government: Our Shared Future and how it performed for children in 2021."
In this week's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Saoirse Brady of the Alliance about the results of this year's Report Card, the improvements that have been made in the area and the policy challenges that are yet to be overcome.
We launched our socio-economic review for 2022 on Tuesday, 19th April 2022. This annual publication is where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society; and a policy framework to move consistently and coherently towards that society.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website here.
This week, Séamus Boland, from the European Economic Social Council, chats with Susanne Rogers about the Conference on the Future of Europe. As Europe shapes more and more of Irish life, whose voice gets to be heard is an important topic.
Séamus is 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.
We need a radical re-think of our society and our place in it. In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Ruairi McKiernan about the Ukrainian crisis; the need for connection; youth mental health; a new Social Contract; and finding our place in it all. It's a fascinating episode.
On the 24th March 2022, CLM and DCU published their report, 'Environmental Justice in Ireland: Key dimensions of environmental and injustice experienced by vulnerable and marginalised communities', looking at the impact of environmental injustice on people and communities most impacted by environmental issues and least supported to address them. In today's episode, Colette Bennett speaks with lead author Sadbh O'Neill, Project Lead Dr. Diarmuid Torney, and Clodagh Daly of Community Law and Mediation on the need to increase awareness and deliberative democracy around environmental justice and key policy proposals for now, for Budget 2023, and beyond.
If you would like to read the report, view the videos of the launch, or the infographics developed by CLM on environmental justice, all are available at Environmental Justice in Ireland: New research and resources by DCU and Community Law & Mediation - Community Law (communitylawandmediation.ie)
This week, Dr. Madeleine Lyes from Space Engagers chats to Susanne Rogers about they work they do, the importance of community engagement and public participation in the co creation of shared spaces and some exciting new projects.
Space Engagers is a research and co-design collective on a mission to make our towns and cities more resilient and sustainable by utilising research, citizen engagement and co-design tools. Dr Madeleine Lyes specialises in policy-oriented research and community engagement. She has a background in critical urbanism, with a PhD focused on the development of urbanity in New York City at mid-century. She has worked on worldwide diaspora engagement, developing recommendations which fed into government policy, and was founder of City Intersections, an urban forum for public engagement around issues facing Dublin city. She is based in Limerick.
The Freedom of Information legislation is a key tool allowing individuals and organisations to request records from public bodies. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know about the power it gives them. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats with Ken Foxe, writer, researcher, trainer and director of Right to Know, an Irish transparency organisation that campaigns for greater information access. Ken is an expert on Freedom of Information and has helpfully taken the time to go through the what and how of information access.
The guide that Ken talks about during the podcast is available on his website www.kenfoxe.com and check out the website of Right to Know at www.righttoknow.ie.
In the week that marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we bring you a Crossover Episode with C.J. Quartlbaum from the Labor Forward podcast. CJ chats about the work he does and the stories he tells and we discuss the changing face of racism and lessons for a multicultural Ireland.
CJ is a writer and speaker from Brooklyn, NY. He is the founder of the nonprofit, Labor Forward, whose aim is a better teaching of Black history. They do this through a variety of means which includes courses, calendars, and the Labor Forward Podcast. He speaks on a variety of topics but mainly focuses on history, culture, and creating a more unified future. He loves his family (wife and three kids), basketball, and food. You can find his work at CJQuartlbaum.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @CJ_Quartlbaum
In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats to Davie Philip of Cultivate. Davie currently manages the Community Resilience Programme that developed out of the Community Powerdown Programme in 2010. He was a founding member of both FEASTA: the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability and Sustainable Projects Ireland Ltd the company behind the ecovillage project in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary where he now lives.
Michelle is Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland and has written extensively on a Just Transition, Sustainability and Climate Action.
To mark International Women's Day, Susanne Rogers chats to Louise Lennon, Policy and Communications Officer with Irish Rural Link and Tara Farrell, CEO of Longford Women's Link about issues of concern to women in rural Ireland.
Find out more about Irish Rural Link HERE and Longford Women's Link HERE.
In today's episode, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Cathal McCrory, Associate Professor (Psychology) of Life Course Development and Ageing in the Department of Medical Gerontology. He also leads the Behavioural and Social Sciences group within TILDA. His research explores the pathways, processes and mechanisms through which socially mediated risk factors come to influence health over the life-course, with a particular emphasis on stress.
This episode looks at the impact of childhood adversity on life expectancy and is one that all policymakers should be listening to.
On Friday, 18th February 2022, Social Justice Ireland published Measuring Progress: The Sustainable Progress Index 2022 which ranks 14 comparable EU countries based on their delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Written by Prof. Charles M.A. Clark of St John’s University, NY; Dr. Catherine Kavanagh of UCC; and Colette Bennett of Social Justice Ireland, the index compares 15 EU countries across all UN SDGs, assesses their performance on each individual SDG; creates a ranking table for performance overall; and provides national and local-level policy proposals to improve Ireland's progress towards the Goals.
Here, we listen back to Prof. Clarke as he considers measurements of Wellbeing.
Play is a serious business! A Playful City is Ireland’s first not-for-profit focused on creating more playful, engaging and inclusive cities with and for communities. Creative Director, Aaron Copeland joins Susanne Rogers to chat about play and involving children in creating safe spaces for them in cities.
In this week's episode Colette Bennett chats with Simon Murtagh, Senior Research and Policy Officer with Oxfam Ireland about Oxfam's latest report, Inequality Kills: The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of Covid-19 and their proposals for a more equal world.
For those of you who may be interested in wealth taxes and how they might work, check out the website Simon mentions in this episode - www.wealthandpolicy.com - for a range of useful resources.
The Simon Communities of Ireland publish "Locked out of the Market" quarterly. It is a snapshot study undertaken over three consecutive days which tracks the number of properties advertised to rent within the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits.
The latest edition published on January 30th 2022 and Wayne Stanley, Head of Policy and Communication joins Susanne Rogers to discuss their findings and subsequent policy recommendations.
We are all aware of changes that need to be made to reduce our emissions and live more sustainably. One such change, according to many advocating in this space, is the introduction of a four-day week. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats to Caroline Whyte of Feasta and Ciarán Nugent of NERI on what exactly it is and what it means for environmental, labour-market, and social sustainability.
On Monday, 10th January 2022, Social Justice Ireland published our policy briefing 'Housing and Poverty 2022'. This briefing, which can be accessed on our website HERE analyses the impact of housing costs – mortgage interest and rent – on the poverty rates of various household types.
In this latest episode of our SJI 10 Minute Lessons Series, we take a look at the post-housing costs poverty rate of various household types as well as our proposals for what needs to be done.
On Monday, 10th January 2022, Social Justice Ireland published our policy briefing 'Housing and Poverty 2022'. This briefing, which can be accessed on our website HERE analyses the impact of housing costs – mortgage interest and rent – on the poverty rates of various household types.
In this latest episode of our SJI 10 Minute Lessons Series, we take a look at poverty, how it's calculated and what it looks like and the impact of rent payments on the poverty rate of people receiving housing subsidies.
Michelle Murphy is Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland.
In her paper for the Social Justice Ireland's 34th Annual Social Policy Conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights, Michelle speaks about the challenging employment, training and poverty and social exclusion trends in social rights and the need for rights to sufficient income and meaningful work.
All the Papers and Videos from the Conference can be accessed HERE and Santina Bertulessi's Policy Conference paper can be listened to HERE.
The 19th November 2021 was the first National Safeguarding Day. A day to recognise safeguarding issues and concerns, and what can be done about them.
There are nine HSE Safeguarding and Protection Teams (SPTs), one in each CHO (Community Healthcare Organisations) throughout Ireland. Each SPT is tasked with co-ordinating consistent responses to concerns of abuse and neglect. In this episode, Colette Bennett chats to Tim Hanly, General Manager of the HSE National Safeguarding Office, about patterns of abuse, the need for structural and legislative reform, and what we, as a society, can practically do.
Michael is a lecturer in political economy at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice in University College Dublin. His work is focused on urban political economy, in particular the relationship between the financial system and housing, as well as the politics of housing and urban activism. This week, he chats to Susanne Rogers about some aspects of housing affordability in Ireland.
More information about Mick's work on housing can be found here: www.theweekinhousing.substack.com
There was only one possible guest for our 100th episode. Dr. Seán Healy, CEO of Social Justice Ireland chats with Susanne Rogers about the origin, aims, objectives, achievements and future hopes for the organisation. Go to www.socialjustice.ie to find out more.
Santina Bertulessi is deputy Head of Cabinet for Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. She is the cabinet’s senior political adviser and is in charge, among other things, of the coordination of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European economic policy coordination and the European Semester, the Social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union, the Child Guarantee, the Social economy and the relations with the European Parliament.
In her paper for the Social Justice Ireland Annual Social Policy Conference, Santina speaks about the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the subsequent action plan. Europe has decided to put social justice, social investments and social resilience at the heart of the recovery. Social rights must drive Europe’s transition towards a green and digital economy and society.
In this week's episode, our returning guest, Eddie D'Arcy chats with Susanne Rogers about his long career in Youth Work, the changes and growth witnessed over the last few decades, the value of this work to society and the challenges and concerns for the future.
This week, the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference is taking place in Glasgow. In this Ten Minute Lesson, Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst, examines the issue of environmental sustainability, the challenges we face, and what can be done about it.
Our Budget 2022 response analyses the budget from a number of perspectives. Will Budget 2022 deliver a fair recovery from the social and economic impact of COVID-19? How were the available resources distributed? What effect will the budget have on inequality? How will Ireland’s most vulnerable fair from this Budget? What measures deal with the housing crisis? Did Government deliver what is required for a Just Transition? Could better choices have been made? What measures have been ignored and in what general direction does this budget take the country?
Download our Budget 2022 Analysis & Critique now.
As we approach Budget 2022 and the subsequent conversations about the raising and spending of national revenues, Susanne Rogers chats to Mary Mellor about money. Mary is Emeritus Professor at Northumbria University, she has published extensively on alternative economics integrating socialist, feminist and green perspectives and this week, she chats about her book " Money : Myths, Truths and Alternatives".
1st October is International Day of Older Persons. To mark this occasion, we're going to take a listen back to Dr. Diarmuid O'Shea's presentation from our 2019 Annual Social Policy Conference The Challenges of Success. Dr. O'Shea presented a paper on Living Well in Our Community, particularly on the theme of ageing well.
To mark Basic Income week, we listen back to Dr. Seán Healy presenting a history of Basic Income in Ireland from our " Delivering a Basic Income Pilot" webinar which can be viewed here.
To mark International Day of Democracy on the 15th September, Susanne Rogers chats to Dr. Matt Ryan about deliberative democracy and participatory budgeting (PB) and his new book " Why Citizen Participation Succeeds or Fails. A Comparative Analysis of Participatory Budgeting" published by Policy Press.
Dr. Matt Ryan is Associate Professor in Governance and Public Policy at the University of Southampton, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Co-Director of the Centre for Democratic Futures and Policy Director at the Web Science Institute.
Ireland is often thought of the land of saints and scholars, and our highly-skilled workforce is one of the main attractions for investors looking to relocate here. However, the literacy divide is a large one. One in six Irish adults have difficulties reading and one in four have difficulties with basic maths.
To mark International Literacy Day on the 8th September, Colette Bennett chats with Helen Ryan, Policy Officer with NALA - the National Adult Literacy Agency - on trends, impacts and policy goals.
The Y-Foundation is one of the key national developers of the Housing First principle in Finland and this week, the CEO, Juha Kaakinen, chats to Susanne Rogers about the Housing First principle, their booklet 'A home of your Own' (which can be accessed here: https://ysaatio.fi/en/housing-first-finland/a-home-of-your-own-handbook) and the challenges that lie ahead.
Dr. Amie Lajoie is a senior researcher at the think-tank TASC and author of 'Exploring Household Debt in Ireland: The Burden of Non-Mortgage Debt & Opportunities to Support Low-Income Households'. Amie chats to Susanne Rogers about the findings of the report and the Money Made Sense programme that arose from the recommendations.
How is disability affected by ageing and how can we develop an understanding of the subjective experiences of disability in older age?
Dr Ann Leahy explores these questions in her new book Disability and Ageing – Towards a Critical Perspective. Published by Policy Press, the book features in the Ageing in a Global Context series in association with the British Society of Gerontology, addressing broad cross-cutting issues around ageing in a global society.
In this episode, Ann chats with Colette Bennett about this important topic and policies to be brought forward to ensure a quality of life for all.
In July 2021, the Central Bank published a series of papers on mortgage arrears, including those on Long Term Mortgage Arrears, Mortgage Shortfalls, and the impact of Covid. In this episode, Fergal McCann, Head of Function for Stress Testing, Analytics and Resilience in the Central Bank of Ireland's Macro-Financial Division chats with Colette Bennett about mortgage arrears, the continuing fall-out of the 2008 crash and what can be done to avoid the same thing happening again.
To mark United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, in this episode Susanne Rogers chats to Donal Leader - Advocacy Officer at Christian Brothers European Province, John McGeady - Justice Officer for the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles - Irish Province and Brian O'Toole - Director of the Interprovincial Justice Desk for the Presentation Sisters about how they came together to create a civil society submission to the Universal Periodic Review, looking at Ireland's Human Rights obligations and responses to human trafficking measures, domestic and gender based violence and migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
The submission can be read here: https://www.olaireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/UPR-Submission-on-Human-Trafficking-Domestic-Gender-Based-Violence-and-Rights-of-Refugees-Asylum-Seekers-ERI-IPA-OLA-18-03-2021.pdf
In this week's episode, Barry Finnegan, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Journalism and Media Communications at Griffith College Dublin chats to Susanne Rogers about the difference between fake news, disinformation and misinformation, the power of language, free speech and critical thinking around 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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
Social Justice Ireland published Social Justice Matters Policy Brief - Education and Covid-19. These Policy Briefs are a series designed to provide independent and in-depth analysis on important social policy issues and to present policy options that should be prioritised in the coming years. This issue looks at the impact of Covid-19 on education at primary level and second level in Ireland.
In this episode, to coincide with World Youth Skills Day, Michelle Murphy and Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analysts with SJI discuss the findings and policy proposals set out within the brief, which can be accessed HERE.
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
Despite the immediate uncertainty, Budget 2022 must embrace the need for new approaches to how we as a society prioritise choices. People, well-being, public services and a widespread and fair recovery must come first.
Budget Choices 2022, available to download from our website, contains detailed, fully-costed Budgetary packages across more than a dozen policy areas including health, housing, education, welfare, sustainability and more; it also contains a range of costed, revenue-raising proposals.
In this week's episode, to mark Social Media Day, Dr. Patrick Bresnihan from Maynooth University talks to Susanne Rogers about data centres. We chat about data usage and creation, the energy usage and environmental impacts of data and alternative energy sources .
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
In this week's episode, Susanne Rogers talks to Cian O’Callaghan, Assistant Professor in Urban Geography at Trinity College Dublin and Kathleen Stokes, postdoctoral fellow at Trinity College Dublin about their Irish Research Council Coalesce scheme funded research project 'Rethinking Urban Vacancy: Addressing the Challenge of Underutilised Land through Innovative policy solutions'.
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
The 23rd June is World Public Service Day. To mark this occasion, we take a listen back to our Annual Social Policy Conference 2018 and a presentation by Dr. Theresa Reidy of UCC on the Power Monopoly between Central and Local Government.
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. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
Social Justice Ireland submitted our 10 Point Plan to deliver Housing for All, as part of the Government's anticipated new housing strategy. Our proposals move away from housing as a commodity towards housing as a home, addressing deficits in homelessness prevention and supports; necessary increases in social housing provision; affordable housing; strengthening the private rented sector; and ensuring that housing developments are providing for sustainable communities.
In this episode, Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst and Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst with SJI discuss the plan, exploring the data and reasoning behind the plan.
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
In April 2021, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) published a background paper "Ireland’s Social Welfare System: Gender, Family and Class". In this week's episode, Anne-Marie McGauran talks to Susanne Rogers about the interaction of gender, family and the welfare system.
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
Employment Monitor is a briefing from Social Justice Ireland examining Ireland’s employment situation, including employment numbers, significant labour market trends, and other aspects of the macroeconomy. The purpose is to highlight selected trends and make recommendations with a focus on the policy goals of increasing employment, providing better working conditions, and creating a more just economic model and a fairer society.
In today's episode, Colette Bennett and Susanne Rogers talk through both the findings and subsequent policy proposals.
Read the Monitor here: https://www.socialjustice.ie/sites/default/files/attach/publication/6504/qem9.pdf
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 2021. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
World Information Society Day was on Monday, 17th May. To mark this day, we focused on the Digital Divide in schools and had a chat with Eamonn Carroll, Research Assistant with the Education Team in the ESRI.
It is possible to implement a Basic Income for artists and art workers. Social Justice Ireland's latest study shows that the Government could honour its commitment to pilot a Universal Basic Income by introducing a Basic Income for artists as proposed recently by the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce Report. This initiative would have minimal costs to the Exchequer and could be implemented from 1st January 2022.
In this episode, we hear from Seán Ward, Board Member of Social Justice Ireland and long-term advocate of Basic Income, on our proposals for a Basic Income Model.
On the 26th April 2021, Social Justice Ireland published our annual Poverty Focus. This publication examines the nature and experience of poverty in Ireland and sets out a series of solutions that could be adopted by Government.
In Part 2 of our two-part series highlighting Poverty Focus we look at the groups most at risk of poverty and set out our policy recommendations.
The publication is also available for download here: https://www.socialjustice.ie/content/publications/poverty-focus-2021
On the 26th April 2021, Social Justice Ireland published our annual Poverty Focus. This publication examines the nature and experience of poverty in Ireland and sets out a series of solutions that could be adopted by Government.
In Part 1 of our two-part series highlighting Poverty Focus we look at how poverty is calculated and the headline numbers.
The publication is also available for download here: https://www.socialjustice.ie/content/publications/poverty-focus-2021
Bohemian Football Club is a professional football club from Dublin, founded in 1890 and is still 100 per cent owned by the members of the Club. CEO Daniel Lambert talks to Susanne Rogers about climate justice, social inclusion, community advocacy and making a difference.
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. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
In today's episode, Susanne Rogers is joined by Ciara Gill, Policy Officer and Aoife McNamara, Participation and Rights Education Coordinator with the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to talk about Direct Division and Life in Lockdown – Two recent reports that spoke to young people living in the Direct Provision system.
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/
In today's episode, Susanne Rogers is joined by Paul Dornan and Sinead McGarrigle from Mercy Law Resource Centre to talk about the findings in their recent report 'Minority Groups and Housing Services - Barriers to Access and their work as part of the Home for Good coalition.
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/
In today's episode, Susanne Rogers chats with Bobby Mc Cormack from Development Perspectives about education, active citizenship and Ireland's progress in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
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/
We launched our socio-economic review for 2021 this week (Tuesday, 24th March 2021), where we present a detailed analysis of a range of key matters which are central to social justice; a vision of Ireland’s future as a just and sustainable society; and a policy framework to move consistently and coherently towards that society.
In this episode, you can listen back to the presentations from this launch. The full publication is also available to download from our website HERE.
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. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
The 20th March is International Day of Happiness, which we could all do with a bit more of! To mark this day, Colette Bennett chats with Dr. Clodagh Harris of UCC about Wellbeing - how it's measured and who should be involved - and how to build forward better.
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. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
Last month, the Unite the Union published 'Hungry Bellies are not the same as Full Bellies' a report looking at inequalities in Ireland and their direct impact on people experiencing food poverty. In today's episode Colette Bennett chats with Brendan Ogle of Unite the Union about the report and the misrepresentation of inequality and economic prosperity.
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/
Today, March 8th, is International Women's Day. To mark this occasion, Colette Bennett chats with Sandra McCullagh, Women's Economic Equality Coordinator with the National Women's Council of Ireland about women's rights - how far we've come and how far we've yet to travel.
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/
The 1919 Democratic Programme pledged as its first duty to secure that “...no child shall suffer hunger or cold from lack of food, clothing or shelter…”. Over one hundred years later, we still have yet to fulfil this pledge.
In this episode, Colette Bennett chats with Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance about children's needs pre-, during- and post-Covid-19 and what should be done to deliver on a century's old promise.
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/
Eddie D'Arcy is CEO of the Solas Project after spending 27 years leading and developing Ronanstown Youth Service in Neilstown. He has received a number of prestigious awards for his work with young people, including the John O'Connell Award.
He chats to Susanne Rogers about the Solas Project and the supports it provides the young people in the area. Also how the Compass and Rua projects work with young offenders, adopting a long term support strategy.
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/
In today's episode, Colette Bennett is joined by Ann-Marie O'Reilly, Policy Officer and Gavin Elliot, Legal Officer with Threshold about the issues for renters in the private rented sector before the pandemic. Despite the efforts made in the past 12 months, more is needed to fully develop tenant rights and prevent unnecessarily homelessness.
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/
The link between poverty and ill-health is well established by international and national research. A World Health Organization Commission that reported in 2008 on the social determinants of health found that health is influenced by factors like poverty, food security, social exclusion and discrimination, poor housing, unhealthy early childhood conditions, poor educational status, and low occupational status.
In this episode of our SJI Ten Minute Lessons series, Colette Bennett takes a look at Health Inequalities in Ireland - the causes, the Covid consequences and what needs to happen next.
In advance of the World Economic Forum taking place in Davos (virtually this year), Oxfam published its annual Inequality Report. This Report is a fascinating read, and debunks the myth that "we're all in this together".
In this episode, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Michael McCarthy Flynn, joins Colette Bennett to talk about this Report and recommendations for a more equal world.
Declan Markey is Regional Community Connector with College Connect, a Higher Education Authority funded three year PATH 3 ( Programme for Access to Higher Education ) project which aims to admit 400 students from specific target groups who are under-represented in college.
In today's episode, Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst speaks with Declan about the programme.
In this episode, Colette Bennett is joined by Dr. Joe Whelan of UCC to discuss his latest publication on the subject of welfare stigmatisation, self-identity and the need for a paradigm shift to eliminate reliance on charity to for basic services.
Social dialogue and social partnership, in various forms, are common across Europe’s most successful economies and can play an important role in creating a fair and sustainable economic recovery here in Ireland.
At a national level a new structure for Social Dialogue is required where issues may be discussed in a deliberative manner. Any proposal for Social Dialogue should involve Government, trade unions and employers, the community and voluntary sector, as well as farmers and environmental groups. Any structure for Social Dialogue that excludes any of these groups would be a recipe for ensuring that most of Ireland’s resources would be captured by those participating in the discussion. Such an approach would simply lead to deepening divisions and growing inequality in Ireland.
In this episode, we look back to our Annual Social Policy Conference 2020 and hear from our panel on the need for a new Social Dialogue. Speakers include Danny McCoy of IBEC, Patricia King of ICTU, Damian McDonald of the IFA, Karen Ciesielski of the IEN and Seán Healy of Social Justice Ireland.
Covid-19 has highlighted things that are profoundly amiss with our Social Contract. Once the pandemic has been addressed successfully it is crucial that we face up to the radical reforms that are required if we are to deliver a new social contract based on the principles of justice and fairness, with sustainability at its core.
In this episode, we take a look back to our Annual Social Policy Conference 2020 where Colette Bennett of Social Justice Ireland proposes a series of policy recommendations to build such a new Social Contract.
There has been a recent political shift towards wellbeing, with talk of a Wellbeing Budget for 2021 and the publication of a discussion document on Wellbeing Indicators with that Budget. This is a good thing, but how those Wellbeing Indicators are developed, and who is consulted, will be key to their success.
In 2018, the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) embarked on a large consultative project to develop Visions for Community Wellbeing across all Local Authority areas. This process saw community groups come together to develop a vision for their community for this and future generations.
In this episode of Social Justice Matters, Colette Bennett speaks to Siobhán Cronogue of Longford PPN, Helen Howes of County Wicklow PPN and Dr. Harriet Emerson, independent consultant, about the process of developing these Visions; their policy impact, and the potential for this process to inform the national Wellbeing Indicators.
Dr Joe Larragy, author of Asymmetric Engagement: the Community and Voluntary Pillar in Irish Social Partnership, 2014, is Lecturer in Social Policy since 2001. He studied Economics and Sociology in TCD, and graduated with a BA (mod) there before gaining an MA in Social Theory from UCC. He previously was Social Policy Analyst at the National Economic and Social Council and prior to that Research Officer at the National Council on Ageing and Older People. While working at Maynooth, he was awarded a PhD in Social Policy from UCD. His research interests include Ageing, state-civil society relationships. He has worked with several organisations in the statutory and NGO sector. In 2012 was founding chair of Maynooth Green Campus, which engages in education and action to promote climate justice and sustainable practices. He is a member of the Pensions Policy Research Group, COST Action on Reducing Old-Age Social Exclusion: Collaborations in Research and Policy (ROSENet). He represents Maynooth University as a member of the NUI senate.
In this paper, presented at the Social Justice Ireland Annual Social Policy Conference, Joe considers the role for a New Social Contract in today's society.
Philippe Pochet is General Director of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) and associated researcher at the Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work (CRIMT, Montreal). Prior to becoming Director of the ETUI in 2008, he was Director of the Observatoire social européen (OSE) for 16 years.
He is interested at and has published extensively books and articles on European social and economic policies, European social dialogue and new forms of governance.
He is now working on the issues of impact of climate change and digitalisation on jobs and seeking how to combine the analysis of the big trends. Previously he had other temporary positions, such as invited Professor at the College of Bruges and invited scholar at the Faculté Universitaire Saint-Louis (FUSL), adjunct professor and visiting scholar at Griffith University (Brisbane). He was also visiting scholar at Berkeley University, at Montréal University, at the Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung (Cologne), and at the Centre for European Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge (USA). In 2005, he was awarded an EU Fulbright-in-Residence grant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA).
In his paper, presented at the Social Justice Ireland Annual Policy Conference on the 18th November 2020, Philippe discussed the fact that, at the European level, what the pandemic has cast doubt on is the very fundamentals of European integration. The main features of the European Union, what could be described as its “pillars”, are these: the single market and freedom of movement, the euro and the Stability and Growth Pact, and competition and state-aid law. We can already look ahead and see that the post-crisis EU could be standing on very different foundations if the questioning of the three basic pillars continues over time or, conversely, it could just as easily go back to its old ways. What will the world environment in which this happens be, though? Here, Philippe provides four possible scenarios emerging.
Ann Pettifor is best known for her prediction of the Great Financial Crisis in The Coming First World Debt Crisis (Palgrave 2006). In 2008 she co-authored The Green New Deal published by New Economics Foundation. In 2017 Verso published The Production of Money on the nature of money, debt and the finance sector. She is the author of The Case for The Green New Deal (Verso, 2019).
In her paper for the Social Justice Ireland Annual Social Policy Conference, Ann speaks of the urgent need for ambitious, cohesive and transformative economic policies and for Europe’s need to face challenges collectively, and in solidarity. But Europe must do more. The upcoming challenges are daunting: not just the ecological and economic failure brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and the risk of a debt-deflationary downward economic spiral, but also the economic divergences that have led to the rise of anti-Europe sentiment, nationalism and populism; and the grave, even terrifying ecological risks that transcend borders.
International Children's Day is November 20th. To mark this occasion, Colette Bennett chats with Jerome Marston, Researcher with the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack about their 2020 report - Education Under Attack 2020 and why this issue is so important, particularly to children growing up in areas of armed conflict.
Deliberative democracy goes beyond mere representation to give a voice to all citizens in the decision-making process. The development of the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) in 2014 provided a mechanism for community groups to have their say in local government decision-making. With over 15,000 member organisations, PPNs are going from strength to strength. In this Ten Minute Lesson, we take a quick look at the pathway to the development of the PPNs.
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 follow in 2020. Check out the list here: https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/
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.
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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.
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
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.
This week, the CSO released the Deprivation statistics for Ireland for 2019.
This Ten Minute Lesson examines the key numbers and trends for that release, and explains what deprivation is, how it’s measured, and what can be done about it.
Family Carers Ireland (FCI) is the national charity that supports over 350,000 family carers across the country - people who care for loved ones with physical or intellectual disabilities, care for older people, the terminally ill, or those suffering from chronic illnesses.
In this episode of Social Justice Matters, Catherine Cox of FCI tells us about how her organisation and the people it represents has been affected by the current pandemic, and their priorities for Budget 2021.
Paddy Cosgrave is the founder and CEO of Web Summit. In this week's episode of Social Justice Matters, we go back to our Social Policy Conference of 2018, and Paddy's presentation, 'Learning from the past to shape the future'.
If there's one positive from Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown, it was the fact that so many people have been willing to re-consider how we have structured our society, particularly the way it has been built around the needs of capital. This presentation is a timely reminder of how we can learn from the past to create a new and better future.
"Spongers", "Scroungers", "Welfare Cheats" - just some of the many tropes used to belittle people dependant on social welfare supports. But the idea of these supports being free and easy money just doesn't ring true.
In the latest episode of our SJI Interviews series, Colette Bennett chats with Joe Whelan, Lecturer in Applied Social Sciences in UCC and author of the paper "We have our dignity, yeah? Scrutiny under suspicion: Experiences of welfare conditionality in the Irish social protection system", among others, on the experiences of people in receipt of social welfare. This is an eye-opening conversation, and gives another layer of understanding beyond the statistics to the lived experience of people dependent on welfare payments.
This week our guest is Edward Shuttleworth. Ed is CEO of See Beyond Borders, which works in Cambodia to provide quality education to Cambodian children.
We wanted to get an international perspective on how Covid-19 is affecting lives and, as you'll hear, organisations engaged in this kind of development work are experiencing considerable barriers as a result of the pandemic.
The Cambodian experience is a reminder that as bad as we have it in Ireland, Covid-19 is going to have extremely negative affects on hundreds of millions of people in less developed countries. It’s also a reminder of the importance of the development aid provided by countries like Ireland to less developed countries like Cambodia, and how much of a difference it makes in people’s lives. Policymakers should remember this when considering their approach to Budget 2021 and particularly the international aid allocation and funding for Irish Aid.
Saturday, 11th July 2020 is World Population Day. In the latest episode of our podcast, Colette Bennett, Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland chats with James Hegarty, Statistician with the Central Statistics Office, about demographics in Ireland - past, present, and future - and looks at what policies will be needed to meet the challenges of success.
The public service cost of not addressing the causes of poverty is estimated at between €3 billion and €7.2 billion per year. This report, the Hidden Cost of Poverty, Estimating the Public Service Cost of Poverty in Ireland, highlights what is behind these numbers. In looking behind those headline numbers, the report delves into the costs associated with reduced health outcomes for people in poverty; educational disadvantage; housing supports; welfare supports; supports for children and families; and the cost to the justice system and emergency services. It's well worth checking out.
In this episode of our SJI Interviews series, Colette Bennett is joined by Dr. Tricia Keilthy, Head of Social Justice with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul who commissioned the report, and Dr. Micheál Collins, Assistant Professor of Social Policy at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, in UCD who conducted the research and wrote the report.
In the latest episode of our SJI Interviews series, Colette Bennett chats with Robert Thornton, Senior Research and Policy Officer with the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice on their work, the Minimum Essential Standard of Living, the Living Wage and what the next Government could do to provide for a decent standard of living for all.
Over ten years on from the financial crash, and after six years of economic growth, before the onset of Covid-19, across the European Union there were 16.8 million people unemployed, 6.65 million people long-term unemployed, and 86 million people living in poverty of whom 19 million were children. This presents significant challenges as Europe grapples with the social and economic consequences of the current crisis.
The findings of 'A Rising Tide Failing to Lift All Boats' - the latest publication in Social Justice Ireland's European Research Series regarding child poverty, young people not engaged in employment, education or training and in work poverty are particularly concerning. These issues must be resolved as an integral part of any investment and recovery package.
In this episode Colette Bennett chats with Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst with Social Justice Ireland to discuss the findings of this Report and the key recommendations that policy makers could take from it.
Dr. Robert Sweeney is an economist with TASC, the think tank for action on social change.
In our latest interview, Robert, provides us with some insights into inequality in Ireland, as revealed in TASC's recent report The State We're In, Inequality in Ireland in 2020.
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
June 3rd 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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
In this episode, we look back to our 2018 Social Policy Conference, and a presentation by Tony Fahey, Professor Emeritus of Social Policy at UCD.
Worse off than their parents? The rising generation of private renters looks at the boom in private rented housing and the corresponding decline in home ownership. Tony also explains why this presents a major problem for Irish society, particularly for young people.
A full video of this presentation is available at www.socialjustice.ie
Refundable Tax Credits could help alleviate the situation of the working poor and make the Irish tax system fairer. But what are they and how would they work?
In the third 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 Refundable Tax Credits, including the what, the why, and the potential effects.
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!