It was a pleasure to be joined in the tortoise shack by UCD Students Union President, Ruairi Power to discuss their report into the student accommodation crisis. He tells us about the survey they conducted and how it shows a large majority of students are paying unaffordable rents for accommodation that often doesn't meet their needs. We also discuss the creeping impact on education, the student experience and student mental health.

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It was a pleasure to be rejoined in the tortoise shack by Public Health Specialist, Dr Marie Casey, to talk about the ongoing response to COVID. Dr Casey tells us about some very positive developments in Public Health, including the development of an National Outbreak Response System, and discusses the learnings made from the ongoing pandemic.

She outlines the foolishness of vaccine inequity, describing the new omicron variant as "the gift we got for ourselves" and urges Ireland and the EU to join the US and over one hundred other countries in calling for the TRIPS Waiver.

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Many of our listeners would be aware of the work of righttoknow.ie, but you might not know that they're back in court next week, this time the Supreme Court, in another battle for transparency. Co-founder and very, very busy guy, Gavin Sheridan joined us to tell us all about it.

Then Gavin, who also compiles a excellent substack newsletter, HERE, talks to us about the frustration of watching the science around COVID change, while the mitigation strategies remain the same.

Join us and help keep the shack going for the price of a fancy coffee at patreon.com/tortoiseshack

This Reboot Republic is a deep dive discussion and analysis into the Irish housing crisis with Rob Cass, who has a background of 15 years in Real Estate. He is currently developing a community real estate project based on regenerating vacant homes. He explains his background, his perspective and analysis of the crisis and solutions that are there if the state played a central role in tackling vacancy through an innovative fund, and supplied modular homes. He also outlines why he sees Dublin as risky for investment, and how the state delivering, through community housing, towns and regions could be a key solution to the crisis.

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This week on another bumper Sunday Special we hosted a brilliant panel of ICCL's Liam Herrick, Returning Champion, Emma DeSouza, Mr Polls Harry McEvansoneya and Dublin Inquirer Reporter, Shamim Malekmian. This time we talked the week that was and the year in review.

We went deep on COVID and civil liberty restrictions, NI progress and the BoJo clown show, we looked at Unity Poll vs Chicken Curry question, the denial around the PSC's demise and we each shared some positives from the year. A great show!

To get access to these shows and help us keep the mics on in 2022 go to patreon.com/tortoiseshack

In this Reboot Republic, Jana Lyons, primary school teacher and trade unionist joins Rory as co-host to talk risk and ventilation in schools.

Joining them are a brilliant panel of Orla Hegarty, of the School of Architecture UCD, school principal and host of the If I Were Minister for Education Podcast, Simon Lewis and SNAs Carol McSherry and Linda O Sullivan. They discuss the difficulties they face, the supports they need and aren't getting. We delve into Respect4SNAs and the reality of what SNA's are doing and how are they being affected. They also discuss masks, fearmongering and far right profiteering from fear and confusion and lack of leadership.

Checkout #Respect4SNAs

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(note, this was recorded on Saturday Nov 27th for tortoise shack members) On Saturday a small anti-Trans protest took place in Dublin, in what looks like a continuation of a tiny section of the country intent on importing UK/US style culture wars to Ireland.

Rather than dwell on their nonsense, we decided to talk with activist, Community Development Officer with TENI and friend of the shack, Lilith Ferreyra-Carroll. We discuss the real crisis facing Trans people when trying to access healthcare, the fact that 'coming out' as Trans can make you fell like less of a person and more like a case study, and the barriers the State put in front of people who just want to live as themselves.

We also chat, thankfully, how Ireland, despite the some mainstream elements rushing to embrace it, is not like the US or UK when it comes to these divisive voices. Many thanks to Lilith for joining us on what was a difficult day. Solidarity.

To Help checkout HERE

And for more on TENI see: @Teni_Tweets and HERE

The European Commission has been asking questions about Ireland blocking Mother and Baby Homes survivors' access to their medical records. Joining us in the tortoise shack to discuss what this all means is solicitor acting for some of the survivors, Simon McGarr.

Simon outlines the problems facing Minister Roderic O'Gorman and the solutions available to him today. We discuss what this means for the survivors, and what avenues are open to them despite the States inability to honour their commitment to provide them with their own medical data. We also look at the redress scheme that falls far far short of the reported historic scheme it was announced as.

Read Simon's Gist HERE

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We've just finished a brilliant Live Sunday Show with Reporter with Noteworthy, Maria Delaney, Social Care Worker, Anne Marie Quilligan and Primary School Teacher, Jana Lyons.

We talked Fianna Fáil as a charity, the great news for some undocumented migrants, the Oireachtas Report into Travellers, COVID restrictions, schools aren't safe, succor for the far right, the arts kicked again and Tony's beef with Mark Rufallo.

New proposal here from Noteworthy HERE

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Late last night Sinn Féin TD, Chris Andrews, asked Minister Roderic O'Gorman why, nine months after it began, St Johns Ambulance have failed to engage with the independent investigation into childhood sexual abuse within the organisation.

Joining me to give his reaction to this is one of the victims and friend of the shack, Mick Finnegan. We discuss what this means for him, the other victims and indeed the publics ability to have faith in the organisation. Mick calls on the Minister to do more to bring St Johns Ambulance to the table in terms of engaging with the investigation.

You can see the video of the interaction on our twitter feed.

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