Charles

Am glad I left some free time in the immigration section of my social welfare module because they keep adding nightmarish stuff that I can discuss (but sadly, helpfully reinforces what dipshits they are)

At a time when some people are losing their jobs over delays in the system for renewing immigration permissions, and others are waiting years for a decision on their application, Lawless wants DoJ to put resources into spying on foreign students’ employment #speirghorm

archive.ph/2026.03.05-1...

I have seen a lot of cursed stuff in my time in academia but this is among the *most* cursed.
Grammarly is generating miniature LLMs based on academic work so that users can have their writing ‘reviewed’ by experts like David Abulafia, who died less than two months ago.

And I would like to say this is over the top to point out the ridiculousness, but the question still comes back to *against whom* and it’s the ridiculousness of the trans/NB character so it’s still a gibe against them

I would like to think this, but he should also really know better and not that this would have been funny a few years ago, but this is especially not funny when US states are functionally settling up bounty hunting services against trans people

Satire would also require that they are commenting on something and being pointed/critical - what they are commenting on is their need to correct their pronouns, which is punching down

They literally decided to have it as the first joke in the trailer so I can’t give them the benefit of the doubt on intent - and then it’s just not funny/not even a good joke, we’ve heard it 5,000 times and the set up is terrible.

It’s both lazy and feels calculated to offend.

I might be naive, but a headline featuring a Minister saying "my job is not to be sensitive", above a caption featuring a "mother of explosion victim" is not a very good look

I am ashamed of my country's recent shameless pandering to the far right. As well as the increase in deportations, many decent, hardworking people who have been here for years have been left waiting for months for renewal of their existing permits to live & work here.

Law firm 'inundated' with Irish students seeking Covid compensation from universities Phoenix Law believes students whose college experience was significantly disrupted during the pandemic may be entitled to compensation.

The level of delusion, and lack of understanding of law/context this requires

www.thejournal.ie/covid-compen...

He's lost his mind, again. He's actually saying that solicitors appear in court and adjourn matters unnecessarily to get more money? Aside from the professional insult involved, do you know how much money each additional day in court is? No? It's €50. That's it.

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Not uncommon, @sundersays.bsky.social. See "Journal of Politics", Volume 85, Number 1, January 2023, doi.org/10.1086/722042

France and Spain voted against the changes to EU law on 'safe third countries' - very critical statements from both countries here: data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...

One of the identified risks is, unsurprisingly, the government’s proposal to limit judicial reviews. #speirghorm

Jim O'Callaghan scapegoating immigrants and acting tough on immigration as part of his bid for the leadership of Fianna Fáil is directly comparable to Leo Varadkar scapegoating welfare recipients as part of his bid for the leadership of Fine Gael.

Neither of them concerned about the consequences.

The Legal Aid Board is going to collapse in 2026. Jim O'Callaghan's focus, meanwhile, is on filming deportation flights and attacking the concept of Judicial Review.

New Garda powers bill could conceal abuses Gardaí can consistently deny racial profiling because there is no data on who is stopped and searched — but the new powers bill doesn't allow this data to be collected. Why, asks Cian Ó Concubhair

I have a piece in Today's @irishexaminer on some major problems with the Garda Powers Bill

An Garda Síochána has routinely denied it racially profiles – & repudiate evidence of racial profiling by denying there's data

This Bill fails to get that data

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Citizenship could be fast-tracked for military personnel

What a cruel slap in the face to the thousands of refugees who already applied for citizenship and have been told just this week of a retroactive change of policy which means they are not yet eligible.

#speirghorm

‘The Department of Justice spokesperson said having people wait longer means they forge a stronger connection with the country “demonstrated over time”.’

The proposal to fast track applications for people who join the military shows what patent bullshit that is.

‘The only honourable course’: Morgan McSweeney’s resignation statement in full Keir Starmer’s chief of staff leaves job over role in Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador

The absolute shame of a Cork person describing the UK as "our great country." Fascinating, too, to so blithely erase your own immigrant positionality while spearheading anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Solidarity with @unison.org.uk workers at the University of Bristol who are striking against a 3.4% real terms pay cut.

Since 2009 higher education pay has lost around 28% of its value.

It's time for University workers to be paid fairly.

Scrapping REF should be ‘serious’ option, says Manchester VC - Research Professional News Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise

Scrapping REF should be “serious’ option”, says Manchester VC.

Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

MoJ orders deletion of UK’s largest court reporting archive Courtsdesk, which supports the media in monitoring records, is an important tool for journalists and the move raises concerns over open justice

The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.

This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.

www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...

A lot of our political discourse would be easier if we didn't extend good faith to people who would never extend it back.

Results of the 20th Quarterly Survey on the Conditions for North-South & East-West Cooperation October-December 2025 have been published.

The report and presentation can be accessed at crossborder.ie/reports/brie...

@benrosher.bsky.social, @anthonysoares.bsky.social & Aidan Campbell

#research

Gentle reminder that this is happening on Monday

You’re going to be extra upset that she says she dated Kate McKinnion in college

Cover page of: Aligning Policy and Reality: how to achieve the aims of sickness and disability benefits reform, with logos of Citizens Advice York, York Carers Centre, York Disability Rights Forum, York Foodbank, Healthwatch York York Human Rights City Network, Older Citizens Advocacy York, and the University of York

Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.

NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.

www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...