Carol Mc Sherry (SNAsSpeakOut)

Wtaf is going on with American journalism ? They have zero clue and no gumption holding politicians to account - but pointless gimmicks? All over that.

That's a worrying turn. That they don't see what is wrong with this ...........😓

“The ‘grown women’ of Ireland remember very well what erasure and control and lack of bodily autonomy feel like and it’s for this very reason that we stand so passionately with the trans community today”

#TransRightsAreHumanRights @independent.ie

Dear . . . . . . I’m writing to you because I have, at some point, run a children’s event for you, and because something has come up that could impact events like this in the future. I’ve recently learned that the Garda’s National Vetting Bureau is now insisting that anyone submitting to vetting must attend in person when they’re providing identification documents to the organisation they’re applying through at the start of the process. While this might be practical for someone employed with that organisation, it could prove to be a major problem for those who are self-employed, and who are running one-off events or workshops for children – a situation that is the norm for artists who work with children. It is possible for a self-employed artist to go through vetting numerous times in a year, as we might work for many different organisations in that time. If we are forced to provide our ID in person, it could mean that doing our events or workshops at any distance from home will become unworkable. An artist would be forced to charge the work-time and expenses for that trip to present ID as well as for the sessions themselves, and the travel and expenses involved on the day of the sessions, which could drastically raise the costs to your organisation. With a growing burden of admin already involved in this work, many artists may just stop doing these events altogether, if there’s too much hassle involved.

We are unlikely to change the rules of the National Vetting Bureau, at least in the short term, but the county councils can use some judgement on this issue. Vetting for one-off visits to schools is not necessary, and given that most children’s events are organized with schools, there may be leeway here. We are asking that county councils seek clarification on this with the Vetting Bureau, with the hope that one-off visits to libraries or other council arts venues might also be exempt from an automatic requirement for vetting. Alternatively, it’s possible for an organisation to nominate someone to check IDs in another part of the country. Rather than a one-off, hit-and-miss approach to this, it would be better if local authorities could set up a system where any event organiser in a county council can easily find and nominate counterparts in any other county, so that there is always someone within reach to whom artists can present our documents. Even driving across a county would require paid time on the part of the artist, and this is a system that would have be arranged on a nationwide basis, but we could then avoid a situation where it becomes unreasonably difficult to have an artist come and work for you because they have to travel a great distance just to prove who they are. As I said at the start of this email, this could have a massive impact on the organisation of children’s arts events, so thank you for taking the time to read this, and I’d appreciate your support on this issue.

I've written the text for an email – you can copy and paste from the alt-text in the images – which I'd suggest you send to any contacts you've done events for in libraries or arts offices recently. Feel free to use it as is, or even better, to write your own version. 4/5

This means that if you live in Donegal and you're invited to do a session in Cork, you might be asked to bring your ID down to Cork, in person, a couple of months ahead of the session, which is, of course, ridiculous. 2/5

Okay, this is one for any writers or illustrators in Ireland doing children's events. In case you haven't already heard, it looks like Garda Vetting rules are changing, so that you will have to appear in person to show your ID documents for any organization that looks for vetting. 1/5
#SpeirGorm

forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/singlemessag...

This is why I'm so proud to be a @forsatradeunion.bsky.social member. #OccupiedTerritoriesBill

Starmer defends Online Safety Act as `child protection´ Rules introduced under the Act on July 25 require online platforms to take steps to prevent children accessing harmful content.

The introduction of age-verification in the UK this weekend appears to be an unmitigated disaster. Anyone accessing socials now has to upload ID, scan their face or otherwise verify. The outrage is widespread and everyone is just finding workarounds.

The government has gone into defense.

The government which has spent 8 years blocking the Occupied Territories Bill, refuses to stop Israeli war bonds being approved here, and refuses to enforce our own laws to ensure weapons are not transiting to the IDF through Shannon says that it "feels helpless" to do anything about Gaza.

Book cover. One day everyone will have always been against this.

BBC: The UK and 27 other countries have called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, where they say the suffering of civilians has "reached new depths".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I always wondered who was behind that account.

Irvine Welsh: ‘I’m often astounded that any relationships take place these days’ The follow-up to Trainspotting sees Renton, Begbie and co settling down. The bestselling author explains why now is the perfect time for romance

share.google/dvGXkNaOnGyn...

The working class are no longer represented by any political party. They have no voice:

I think we need love more than ever. Loads of it. Orwell wrote: “If there is hope, it lies with the proles.” I think now, if there is hope, it lies with the lovers

This is fantastic #speirgorm.
A true cultural gem for you @davidmccullough.bsky.social

I don't react well to jump scares. If I punch them in the face it'll be muscle memory

I also dislike the heat in Ireland today. I like my weather the way Leonardo Di Caprio likes his women: under 25.

Please listen to this please. #pensionparity for secretaries and caretakers.

The Police arrested this woman and 26 others for holding signs like these today.

What an absolute disgrace this is for the UK.

Free Speech, yeah right.

I'm also ruling myself out. This time anyway.

I knew people affected by the Murder of Esther and Jessica McCann by Frank Mc Cann. This story links in with the story of George Gibney and Derry O'Rourke. Absolutely horrific story where the legal system didn't move fast or effectively enough share.google/wRL8qUtuFdCy...

Game Changers: Gary O’Toole took a stand when others turned their heads At expense of 1992 Olympics chances, swimmer sought justice for George Gibney’s victims

3/ And I hope all these years later, justice is done. O'Toole's a reminder of the good people can do, that individuals make a difference, that others take strength from one's bravery. If you don't know O'Toole's story, read this from 2020: www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-...

I knew people affected by the Murder of Esther and Jessica McCann by Frank Mc Cann. This story links in with the story of George Gibney and Derry O'Rourke. Absolutely horrific story where the legal system didn't move fast or effectively enough share.google/wRL8qUtuFdCy...

Charmed was my maternity leave must watch when I was exhausted and overwhelmed.

The money is worth it alone for the work that Martin has done on bogus self employment.

Get more from The Tortoise Shack on Patreon Creating The podcasts that you love with the values we share.

Could really do with some support. Like really really. Please. Click on patreon.com/tortoiseshack

Palestine Action never carried out or threatened to carry out any violent action, and yet are now a ’terrorist organisation’.

Meanwhile, the Spectator…

Protect Our Revolutionary History - Make the GPO a National Monument not a Shopping Centre The GPO is the most important historical site in the City of Dublin, the centre of a rebellion that marked the start of the Irish revolutionary period.  The Rising was globally significant, prec...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr... @uplift.ie

A big shout out to John Regan our chair, who supported us, and Moira Leydon who organized this for us. Thanks to my friends in @forsatradeunion.bsky.social for welcoming me to my first 'big' conference too.

Honoured to join Kay Kearns in supporting this motion on behalf of the Meath Council of Trade Unions. We were in Belfast for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions conference.

Great thread on the parallels of the failure of the Labour party in Ireland to the direction of Labour in the UK.
One image of Labour sticks with me at voting time. Ruairí Quinn pledging to do away with student fees. Only to roll back on that promise and then increase fees when in government.

Union leaders to debate four-day working week A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which begins in Belfast toda...

A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which begins in Belfast today