Sorcha Pollak

‘It feels like the system won’t accept me’: Ukrainian doctors struggle to find work in Ireland Despite passing required exams and registering with the Irish Medical Council, Ukrainian doctors face difficulties practising here

To mark 3 years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I spoke to some of the Ukrainian doctors who sought protection in Ireland but are still struggling to find work here.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

‘It’s so deeply unfair’: Lankum singer Radie Peat on the lack of supports for her autistic daughter ‘You ask yourself, will she ever say mama’ - singer and Lankum musician told she must wait until July 2028 for services

I spoke to Radie Peat and Dan Lambert last week about the nightmare of negotiating Ireland's autism services for their 3-year-old daughter. Huge thanks to them both for sharing their experience, so many other families are facing the same impossible struggle. www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/...

Ukrainians in Ireland: ‘All of a sudden it’s like you’ve lost interest in us’ At least 1,000 Ukrainian refugees face relocation in a push to reduce State accommodation contracts

Ukrainians in Ireland: ‘All of a sudden it’s like you’ve lost interest in us’. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

State has failed to plan for a surge of asylum seeker arrivals as new EU legal deadline approaches Ireland is just one of six European countries with no plan to deal with increase in demand for migrant accommodation

The Irish State is failing to plan adequately for a sudden increase in asylum seeker arrivals, despite being obliged under EU law to present a contingency plan for this scenario by April 2025 www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

Justine McCarthy: Fianna Fáil needs to explain why it can’t talk to Sinn Féin if it will talk to Michael Lowry If 14 years’ tribunal work by a High Court judge can be so readily air-brushed by successive governments, what’s the point of bothering?

Fianna Fáil needs to explain why it can’t talk to Sinn Féin if it will talk to Michael Lowry

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...

Lara Marlowe on meeting Bashar al-Assad: ‘He was comical-looking. They called him ‘the giraffe’ In the News podcast: Writer and journalist Lara Marlowe discusses the five decades of authoritarian rule under Hafez and Bashar al-Assad

Writer and journalist Lara Marlowe met and interviewed both of the Assads, father and son.
On today's In the News podcast ep, she speaks about Syria's half-century of authoritarian rule under the Assad family and the legacy they've left behind.
www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/in-...

Suad Aldarra: At 5am, my husband shakes me awake. The Syrian regime has fallen Assad’s withdrawal ignites a tiny spark of hope. We don’t know the rebels’ agenda but everyone from all religions and backgrounds seems united

"At that moment, I realise that we are no longer refugees or displaced. We are free and have a home to return to and show our kids that it’s not an imaginary place. We can visit the graveyards of our dead people."
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...

Ireland’s Syrian community: ‘We are no longer refugees, we are free Syrians’ Syrians in Ireland express their disbelief, joy and optimism for the future following news that president Bashar al-Assad has been ousted from power

"Now we know we can go back, there’s something there for us. We can rebuild. We are no longer refugees, we are free Syrians.”
www.irishtimes.com/world/middle...

Green Party collapse: ‘It’s the old story of the junior Coalition partner’ being punished Green Party, which held 12 seats in the last Government, suffered a heavy blow in election with several senior members losing seats

Green Party collapse: ‘It’s the old story of the junior Coalition partner’ being punished www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman says he only expects his party to secure between 2-3 seats in the 2024 general election, down from the 12 TDs currently in Gov.
“It's clear the Green Party has not had a good day", he told media at Dublin West count centre.

35% of boxes now open at Dublin West -
SF's Paul Donnelly 22%
FF's Jack Chambers 20%
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie 13%
PBP-Solidarity’s Ruth Coppinger 9%
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman 6%
Soc Dem's Ellen Murphy 6%

Tally from Dublin West with 25% of boxes open - SF Paul Donnelly at 21%, FF's Jack Chambers is at 20%, FG Emer Currie is at 14%, PBP-Solidarty's Ruth Coppinger has 9% and GP Roderic O'Gorman and SD Ellen Murphy are on joint 6%. #GE2024

All kicking off at Dublin West #GE2024

Election 2024: What are the key immigration issues for voters? Asylum seekers and refugees continue to arrive, protests have become common, and the State’s immigration system continues to flounder

Election 2024: What are the key immigration issues for voters?
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

"Riveting"
"Indispensable"
"Exceptional"

@msmirandasawyer.bsky.social of The Observer has given her verdict on the new 'Stakeknife' podcast which is also the @theguardian.com pick of the week.

Episode 1 is out now on all platforms & 1 AND 2 are available on BBC Sounds. Give it a listen now ⭐️

Pregnant and seeking asylum: ‘Imagine the journey some of these women have been on’ Coombe hospital-linked Daisy Clinic provides maternity and gynaecological care to pregnant women who are within the international protection system

Pregnant and seeking asylum in Ireland: 'Imagine the journey some of these women have been on through Europe to get here'
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

‘Families are told your son is dead but we can preserve his sperm’: Why is postmortem sperm retrieval soaring in Israel? In the News podcast: Journalist, broadcaster and author Jenny Kleeman joins In The News to discuss the surge in demand for PMSR among grieving Israeli parents

www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/in-...

‘Eight hours of volunteering?’: Church of Scientology ‘exploited’ asylum seekers in Dublin Controversial church says it has ‘never advised’ asylum seekers on refugee applications after migrants receive certificates for volunteering with group

My report with @conorgallagher.bsky.social into how Dublin's Church of Scientology has recruited hundreds of asylum seekers for 'volunteer work', promising them certificates which they claim will help with their asylum claims. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...