Context is everything, be it a 'Win' for Ireland with #AppleTax, a 'Good Day' for the Data Protection Commissioners in the #MaxSchrems case or a 'We're all human' nap during a vote on workers rights.

When you strip back the spin, the wins, the good days and the we're all human naps, are not good news for Irish citizens particularly in the context of rising infection numbers. Tony and Martin mull over the week's goings-on and give their verdict in front an online audience of Tortoise Shack supporters. Environment, Technology & Information Law Solicitor, Fred Logue also has a few words about the Schrems case too. Thanks, Fred!

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After the Global Financial Crisis two powerful narratives developed:

1. That our problem was a greedy Public Sector

2. That austerity was the only solution.

Our guest in The Tortoise Shack is author of ‘Overpaid’ and ‘inefficient’: print media framings of the public sector in The Irish Times and The Irish Independent during the financial crisis, Dr Aileen Marron. Aileen points out that the reemergence of these tactics as we begin to see an easing of the Covid-19 restrictions and we talk about how we can spot these narratives and counter them. Whilst this new government has said that they must 'avoid the perception of implementing austerity', that is very different to not rolling it out again. We can counter it, we just need to be able to spot Divide and Rule when it's presented as the sensible option.

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Reboot Republic is two years old and to mark the occasion we are joined by the guest with the most podcast appearances, SIPTU researcher and political economy commentator, Michael Taft.

We discuss the new Government and the claims that they are radical centrist and what that means. We also talk about the Apple Tax ruling and what will happen no matter the verdict. Finally we talk about the need for the Alternative Government to begin to come together and put forward solutions to the big issues that people care about during the lifetime of this new Dáil.

Thanks for all the support over the last two years.

Follow Michael on twitter: @notesonthefront

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There has not been a single conviction for human trafficking in Ireland. Not one. We are joined in the tortoise shack by CEO of The Immigration Council of Ireland, Brian Killoran, to talk about how a country that was recently identified as a key location for this heinous crime does not appear to be taking it seriously. Brian had some slight audio issues, but do listen, this is an important subject and we all need to be aware of the difference between human smuggling and trafficking and where both are most pervasive.

We also discuss the new government and their commitment to end Direct Provision and the steps that Brian would like to see that can make this happen. The Immigrant Council do important work and this is a subject we'll be returning to soon.

Find out more and support this crucial work by going to: immigrantcouncil.ie

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A new job, a new virus and now a new Government; Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Aoife-Grace Moore, has had a lot to deal with in the last few months. She gives us a look into the role and how Covid changed so much. We also discuss the 145 days to government formation, Sinn Féin, the Left leaning opposition (as well as the opposition to the opposition) and the less than auspicious beginning for this new administration. Finally we delve into the adventures of a Derry Girl in Dublin and discuss how it's not the role of people from the North to inform us in the South about the history of our island. There's no honeymoon period!

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At a very basic level the public have a right to know what is done with their money. Reporter, Director of @RightToKnowIE, lecturer at TUD and FOI expert, Ken Foxe was back on the pod to talk FOI, transparency and accountability. He delves into the recent changes that have made things more difficult and explains that while most of the public seem not to care, this information is crucial in a robust democracy. Corruption flourishes in the dark, we need a political champion to shine a spotlight on it.

Visit kenfoxe.com/foi-guide/ for more

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We are joined in the #TortoiseShack by Gerald Nash TD and Professor Eoin Daly, Lecturer above the bar, School of Law, NUI Galway to discuss the recent controversial High Court judgment which ruled, as unconstitutional, legislation which allowed for the regulation of wages in specific economic sectors - Náisiúnta Leictreach Contraitheoir Eireann v. the Labour Court. We talk about the long history of sectoral orders and the implications for all workers and possibly the minimum wage.

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The Greens voted overwhelmingly for the Program for Government, but while they are now in government, the divisive nature of the debate hasn't been addressed by the excluding of all of the members who spoke out against what is, in our opinion,a bad deal.

Joining us in The Tortoise Shack is Green Party and Cork City Councillor, Lorna Bogue. We discuss events of the last few months, including her suspension from the party, bullying and the reasons why she is going to stay and fight for climate justice and not settle for becoming a Green Mudguard.

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This Reboot Republic podcast talks to Dr Michael Byrne, from UCD School of Social Work, Policy & Social Justice about his new report ‘Security and agency in the Private Rented Sector’. We discuss the issues facing renters, the role of cuckoo funds making housing unaffordable, the ineffectiveness of subsidising homeownership, the power landlords have over tenants, the legislation that needs to change to make renting a secure home in Ireland and the importance of tenants taking action, such as the new tenants union CATU. We also delve into the challenges of affordability and security of tenure and how they continue to have devastating impacts for renters.

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This Reboot Republic podcast speaks to Tricia Kielthy, Head of Social Justice and Policy at St Vincent de Paul about the new report, the Hidden Cost of Poverty which shows 4.6bn is spent each year dealing with the effects of Poverty in health, housing, policing etc. It also shows the persistently high levels of Poverty with 225000 children in poverty. We also talk about poverty and the Programme for Government, a New Poverty Act to legislate for binding targets to reduce poverty, the lived reality of Poverty- SVP received 15000 calls for help in March alone. We ask why is there not an ambition to end poverty? It can be done.

Link to the report HERE

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