A View from the Ditch

In February, Unite the Union published a report entitled 'Hungry Bellies: Exploring inequality and deprivation in Ireland', which provides detailed evidence of growing inequality in the Republic of Ireland, and challenges the narrative, recently promoted in the Irish media and by the government, that inequality is falling. We spoke to Dr Conor McCabe, the principal author of the report, about that narrative; the misrepresentation of economic data by those promoting it; the concrete evidence that on the contrary Ireland is getting more unequal; and more broadly about the problems with the Irish economic model.

Dr McCabe is also the author of Sins of the Father: Tracing the Decisions That Shaped the Irish Economy (2011) and Money (2018).

First broadcast Saturday 6 March 2021 on Quarantine FM

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins joined us to explain CETA and its Investor Court System (ICS), and why in her view we should oppose its ratification. She outlined both ethical and practical objections to the agreement and the ICS in particular; described the ‘regulatory chill’ effect it would have on future governments; explained why this kind of dispute mechanism is not a necessary feature of trade agreements; and highlighted some of the policy areas likely to be affected if CETA were ratified.

First broadcast Saturday 27 February 2021 on Quarantine FM

Stiofán Ó Nualláin of Trademark Belfast spoke to us about his work in anti-sectarianism in Northern Irish workplaces, and in radical political education. We also discussed the destruction of audio recordings of testimony by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission; charges resulting from last summer's infamous Oireachtas Golf Society dinner; and rumours of Bertie Ahern still planning a run for president.

First broadcast Saturday 20 February 2021 on Quarantine FM

We spoke to Melanie Steinhardt, who worked for several years in criminal justice reform in New York, about mass incarceration in the United States; the racism endemic to the system, the scale and the cruelty of it, and the prospects for change under the Biden administration.

First broadcast Saturday 6 February 2021 on Quarantine FM

As a policy adviser, Barry Kearney worked extensively on the Protection of Employee Tips Bill 2017, which if enacted would have make it illegal for employers to take their workers' tips. The Bill passed all stages in the Seanad and Second Stage in the Dáil, only to be defeated by the Fine Gael-led minority government. Barry spoke to us about the problems the bill sought to address, the work that went into it, and how and why it was ultimately thwarted.

First broadcast Saturday 30 January 2021 on Quarantine FM

Sarah Taaffe-Maguire (Twitter: @taaffems), staff writer with the Business Post, rejoins the programme to talk about the recently published Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, and some of the issues with it, as well as with the government's response.

First broadcast on Saturday 23 January 2021 on Quarantine FM.

First Broadcast Saturday 16 January 2021 on Quarantine FM

Saoirse McHugh joined us to discuss how she came to stand as a candidate for the Green Party, what she learned from the experience, her decision to break with the party last year, and much besides. We also chatted about the riot by Trump supporters in Washington, D.C., and the ongoing territorial dispute over Rockall.

First broadcast 9 January 2021 on Quarantine FM

Our interview with Michelle Gavin, former Debenham's worker and organiser of the picket at the Waterford store. We spoke in the wake of the announcement of mediator Kevin Foley's proposals to resolve the Debenham's dispute.

First broadcast Saturday 19 December 2020 on Quarantine FM

We were fortunate to be able to interview Michelle Gavin, former Debenham's worker and organiser of the Waterford picket; and Mary Humphreys, who was an independent candidate in the 1992 general election in Westmeath. We also chatted about Micheal Martin's error and problems with commemoration.

First broadcast Saturday 19 December 2020 on Quarantine FM