Public talks, dodgy employers, socially distanced protests and Dáil committees, LookLeft keeps you up to date with the week’s most important events.
Public meetings
Tuesday is a busy day for talks. In the before-time this would have meant having to make a choice between different causes. Now, you can watch one live and catch up with the others when they’re eventually put up on YouTube or Facebook (or at least you’ll tell yourself that you will).
At 6.30 the Limerick Anti-Racism Network and the University of Limerick are hosting Sociology in the City: Racism and Anti-Racism in Ireland. Panellists will share their insights and experiences of racism in Ireland as well as anti-racism approaches.
Then at 7pm there’s Tackling Health Inequalities – Free Health and Social Care for All. As it says on the tin, the meeting is about how Ireland needs a new health and social care system which is free at the point of use. Goretti Horgan will chair and the speakers include Dr Peadar O’Grady (People Before Profit), Colette Bennett (Social Justice Ireland), and Adam Gaffney (Medicare for All campaigner).
Despite the involvement of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, ‘Agitate!’ Frederick Douglas and Ireland looks like it’ll be interesting event. It starts at 5pm EDT (that’s 10pm in Ireland if we can count correctly).
Trade unions
The purpose of the Spike Island Development Company is to teach and promote the island’s history. But it’s the island’s present that trade union Unite is more worried about. It appears that two female employees have been dismissed for fighting for a toilet. Yes, you read that correctly. Keep an eye on the Solidarity with Spike Workers Facebook page for any upcoming solidarity actions.
Taking action
Under the banner of ‘No to eco-austerity! Yes to Climate Justice!’, National Climate Justice Demonstrations will be taking place in person in Cork, Ennis and Galway this Saturday but due to Covid-19 restrictions the Dublin actions will be an online rally and public meeting.
At the same time, Éirigí will be outside the ESB offices in East Wall protesting Electric Ireland increasing the price of electricity for domestic users by 3.4%. The short-term demand is an energy-price freeze for the duration of the pandemic, while the long-term demand is public ownership of all renewable energy generation.
Also on Saturday there is a (distanced) charity walk in aid of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.
Oireachtas
And finally, to the Oireachtas.
The Forestry Bill 2020 is still in the Dáil this week and the Government will also be making a statement on the roadmap for Living with Covid-19. On the opposition benches, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have motions on the annulment of the EU Common Fisheries Regulations 2020 and child poverty, respectively, while People Before Profit will be bringing the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020.
We haven’t forgotten about the Seanad. Wednesday will be a busy day, with the Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020, the National Screening Advisory Committee Bill 2020, and statements on the Independent Review of the role of Local Authority Elected Members. The State Airports (Shannon Group) (Amendment) Bill 2020 is up on Thursday.
It looks like there’s a lot going on with committees this week but the majority are just agreeing chairs and making introductory statements that members can clip and share. However, on Tuesday the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach will be looking at scrutiny of EU legislative proposals, on Wednesday the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence will be looking at EU scrutiny (we’d suggest that anything involving Simon Coveney and Defence requires serious scrutiny), and on Thursday the Committee on Budgetary Oversight will be having pre-Budget engagement with the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe.
