The Irish Constitution states that "the State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of society." So why are we denying the Right to Family Unification to Migrants and Refugees. Fiona Finn is CEO of Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee rights organisation and she joined us to talk about the Migrant experience, access to justice and rights and how we can all play a role in getting this new Dáil to look again at the Family Reunification Bill.

For more on the work that Nasc do check out nascireland.org

To help keep these podcasts going please join us on patreon.com/tortoiseshack

In this homelessness, eviction housing solutions special Reboot Republic we talk to Anthony Flynn, Dublin City Councillor & CEO of Inner City Helping Homeless and Laoise Neylon, journalist and reporter with the Dublin Inquirer. We discuss the current homelessness situation in Dublin, how COVID has impacted, the problems with the way homelessness is being officially measured, the use of tourist accommodation, how the ending of the eviction ban is resulting in increased evictions and an inevitable rise in homelessness. We also discuss the delivery of new social and affordable housing, updating on the O Devaney Gardens housing plan, Bartras gains & the city council loss, the cost rental and affordable rental aspects - and shockingly how public cost rental housing is being developed under build to rent planning - not living size homes.

Rory points to the hope of new social housing projects but Anthony & Laoise are a little more sceptical. This is a terrific podcast.

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Here is our latest Live Online Podcast featuring Caroline West, Linday Hayden, Martin McMahon, Tony Groves and Vicky Conway. This week we discussed THAT Irish Times headline, the new powers around house parties, the difference in the homelessness numbers, the celebrity problem with Only Fans and Jedward as our political saviours!

The full podcast featuring Prof Lorcan Sirr on "affordable" housing and ICHH's Brian McLoughlin on the need for mental health supports is available on patreon.com/tortoiseshack

If you want to support my fundraising for ICHH and Ana Liffey please go to tortoiseshack.ie/run2020 and click on the donate button.

Thank you.

Dr Sharon Lambert is a Lecturer in Applied Psychology in UCC, and so much more. Dr Lambert joined us in the tortoise shack to explain what Trauma Informed Design is, the perceptions of drug users and how class influences them. We talk about the need for ethical and compassionate harm reduction services. Dr Lambert outlines both the financial and humane imperatives to treating addiction as a healthcare issue and not a criminal justice one. Blending her years of experience of working in disadvantaged communities with her work in psychology, Dr Lambert outlines the ways we can reshape our support services to the benefit of all, even the bean counters.

Please consider supporting these podcasts by going to: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

In this Reboot Republic podcast we talk to Dr Laura Bambrick social policy officer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. We discuss the economic impact of COVID on workers and businesses, especially the precarious and low paid, the lack of protection for workers in Ireland, the pandemic unemployment benefit and wage subsidy scheme. We also talk about how the pandemic has shown the strengths and weaknesses of the Irish welfare state and the need to adddress inequality and continue state support for workers and sustainable businesses.

Please support these podcasts and the wider Tortoise Shack by joining us at: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

As part of our members 'giveback' we've just recorded another Live Online pod on the events of the past week and some of the stories that might have slipped under the radar.

The panel this week was the voice of the Echo Chamber Podcast, Martin McMahon, DCU Law's and soon to be Policed Podcast Host, Dr Vicky Conway, host of the brand new PAC Woman Podcast, Linda Hayden, Tony Groves and extended Tortoise Shack family member, Saoirse McHugh.

This is a fast moving review of the week, with some laughs sprinkled in.

To hear the full podcast, including Q&A and to attend the next similar event join us on: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

The government is in disarray and perhaps it's biggest challenge is only a few days away, the reopening of schools. Joining us to discuss this are Lecturer in Education ICT at the Marino Institute, Ciara Reilly, Primary School Teacher and INTO member, Jana Lyons and Lecturer in Education at Maynooth University, Camilla Fitzsimons.

This is a terrific discussion that touches on the very real concerns of teachers, students and parents. The panel outline the challenges that schools, teachers, pupils and the Dept are facing in the coming weeks and crucially, they offers real workable solutions. I know the golf stuff will dominate the news, but make time to listen to this.

The tortoise shack needs support. Join us and you'll get access to exclusive content and live events: patreon.com/tortoiseshack

With a second wave now around us and some very mixed messages from our government, we decided to look at the health of the health service. Joining us to talk about what we've come through, where we are now and in an ideal world, where we should be going next is Consultant Rheumatologist, patient advocate and "normal sensible person", Dr Laura Durcan.

Laura breaks it all down in an accessible way and offers solutions to the Public vs Private issue and more. Laura came highly recommended by her colleagues. I'm not surprised. This is a great listen.

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This Reboot Republic podcast talks to current Young Journalist of the Year, Jack Power of the Irish Times, about the distressing eviction of nine tenants in Phibsborough, Dublin City last week. This took place just weeks after the government removed the COVID eviction ban. We discuss how the eviction unfolded, the way property investment funds can evict tenants so easily, and are unaccountable to tenants, we also talk about the the proactive response from housing activists such as Dublin Central Housing Action, the new tenants union CATU, and local community that supported the tenants to get back into their home. We go into the need to reintroduce an eviction moratorium and for the Attorney General's advice to be challenged. We also discuss current tenant protections and our ongoing call for referendum on the right to housing.

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As we near the time for schools to start reopening with what seems to be a 'let's hope for the best' strategy, we decided to talk to our friend in Stockholm, Philip O'Connor, about the Swedish experience and what impact them NOT closing the schools has had. Philip talks us through the variances of outcomes in the Nordic/Scandinavian region and breaks down in an accessible way the steps taken in Sweden that make it an outlier. Then we discuss Philip's exciting new US Presidential campaign project, Outside it's America - 50 States in 50 days and 50 podcasts.

To learn more and to support this project head to kickstarter.com/projects/philipoconnor/outside-its-america-50-podcasts-50-states-50-days

and check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1AzJAL5Tts

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