Referendum!

[springbrigid]

Anyone inclined to give an opinion? I am leaning towards a yes/no vote, the yes to remove what I see as sexist language in the constitution, the no because the government are so appalling in terms of providing services and rights to disabled citizens and I feel the clause is paternalistic and pushes care on families yet again

Triggered a memory there. I knew a young lad who had to do literally everything for his ma. She had Alzheimers. His older brothers and sisters had emigrated and the father was dead. The lady herself was only in her 50s when she died. That was before 2000. You'd hope social care had improved. But has it. I - almost - can't believe what Leo said. It's like Sunak not knowing how to use a debit card. They really inhabit a different planet.

@DanielGault

I hear you, they are just a pale shade of grey and no one seems to have the skill to want to change things.

It's one big huge party, but different shades of grey

With a few lone independents dotted around.

If I had a Healy Rae type character in my constituency I would vote for them, fairy forts and all.

I wonder is there any stats on child carers in this country?

There are definitely kids that take care of a incapacitated parent, get themselves to school come home and start all over again.

Kids don't vote so they probably don't bother their holes collecting that information.

I'd love to know what countries recognise durable relationships!
As I said one part of the relationship might consider it steady & solid, the other part is having fun, handing in there but won't commit!

it is concept which other EU countries recognise durable relationships which would the key to bringing that whole argument down.

Why is that woman calling herself 'Countess' and invoking Countess Mankiewicz in terms of the referendum? The actual Countess sent her only child to be raised by her parents.

Sorry, you've lost me @springbrigid. Who's that?

https://twitter.com/caulmick/status/1765513490679181709/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1765513490679181709&currentTweetUser=caulmick&mode=profile

Thought this was a powerful response on care during last nights debate.
Wouldn't agree on all of Aontú's policies but they are the only credible opposition we have along with the independents.

It's an organisation and they look at several different issues affecting women.

Countess is the name of the organisation. Presumably because Markiewicz was the first woman elected to Parliament and the leader of Cumann na mBan.

It is after Markiewicz. "The Countess didn't fight for this".

They have had some successes, including keeping words women and mother in maternity and abortion legislation

Campaign was #Those words belong to us.

They also with Peadar Tobin drafted a proposal to prevent biological born men being incarcerated in women's prisons regardless on their gender ID.

The founder (can't remember her name) Laoise??? I think, is a lawyer or barrister and a mother.

Amazingly the so called mother in the home clause didn't hold her back

Go figure

That didn't open for me

I love The Countess. Exactly the act didn't hold Maria Steen back either!

I'll try & find it again in a different format, it's very informative. It cements why both bills should be rejected.

@Dublincailin I can only find the twitter link. He's basically saying that the government have the surplus money to pump into care now but they are choosing not to. And striving isn't just isn't good enough. Toibín is an able dealer. Although I felt Norma did better than expected last night. She certainly put more effort & energy into her arguments than McEntee.

https://twitter.com/caulmick/status/1765513490679181709/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1765513490679181709&currentTweetUser=caulmick&mode=profile

Another excellent tweet from Tóibín. Where is Mary Lou? Where are Sinn Féin? What type of opposition party are they? Their silence speaks volumes.

Aontú & the Independents are the only ones rising to the challenge!

That is actually shocking. So vote yes and we will give you money. Vote no and you get nothing. So basically, they are trying to buy votes as well as lying about the impact of a yes vote. There is absolutely nothing, other than a lack of willingness, preventing them from providing more money for carers right now.

Yes @OchonAgusOchonOh I tweeted a clip from the debate last night above where Tóibín challenges Foley about all the surplus money they have that they could give to carers but won't & why aren't they doing so immediately?
Also Maria Steen said this referendum is costing the taxpayers 23 million which could be spent on building care facilities.
The lies & false promises from the Yes campaign have been staggering this week.

They have a money-saving solution to that coming down the tracks. People told me I was being alarmist. I'm certainly alarmed.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/0307/1436433-assisted-death/

You really have to wonder how stupid they think the electorate is.

Maybe don't answer that. It would be too depressing.

@OchonAgusOchonOh the news in most of the papers today is about all the cuts to SEN hours in primary schools. This is disastrous for families & children who are getting nothing as it stands & more hours are bring taken away. How can they be trusted on either act? They do think the electorate are simpletons & that we should vote yes through their virtue signalling flag waving & "progressivness".

https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2024/0212/1431826-ireland-education/www.rte.ie/news/education/2024/0212/1431826-ireland-education/

How can the government promise carers extra money when they taking very valuable SEN hours off the most vulnerable in our schools.
Michael Martin & Helen McEntee were appealing to all on the debates to "think of the children".
What about these children who are having these very valuable, precious SEN hours removed from them? Do these children & their education not matter?
I wish Tóibín had pressed Norma Foley on that last night but obviously that's a different debate for another time.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/what-does-the-department-know-about-my-daughters-literacy-or-numeracy-mothers-fears-over-special-education-cuts-plan/a1514919395.html

Sorry, I must be wrong as I understood it was mainly one person and then various allies at different times. It's still strange to invoke the name of someone who in no way aligned her own life with the home or child-rearing.

I don't like their tactics nor that they contribute to gript which I feel has been responsible for stirring up a lot of racism and animosity.