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Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford author Colm Tóibín awarded prestigous honorary degree from Oxford University
On Wednesday, June 25, Tóibín was awarded the honorary degree of Doctors of Letters for his contribution to literature and journalism from the University of Oxford. The degree honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of literature, the creative arts, and humanities. The university outlined the long list of accomplishments that made him eligible for the coveted award. "Professor Colm Tóibín, FRSL is an Irish novelist, writer, journalist and academic. He currently serves as the Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University. Professor Tóibín's work has been widely recognised and shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times. His novel Brooklyn (2009) was also adapted into an Oscar-nominated film. Professor Tóibín is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was appointed Laureate for Irish Fiction 2022-2024 and in 2023 was awarded the Bodley Medal,' they said. Being awarded at the private ceremony alongside him was Dame Jacinda Ardern, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Clive Myrie, Professor Serhii Plokhii, Professor Timothy Snyder, Sir Mo Farah, Professor Robert S Langer and Professor Erwin Neher. On the morning of the ceremony, the heads of colleges, university dignitaries, holders of the Oxford degrees of Doctor of Divinity, Civil Law, Medicine, Letters, Science, and Music, and the honorands assemble, in full academic dress, in one of the colleges, where they enjoy Lord Crewe's Benefaction. They then walk in procession to the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street. The University dignitaries enter the theatre in procession; those who are to receive honorary degrees wait in the Divinity School where they sign their names in the Honorary Degrees Book. They are then escorted into the theatre by the Bedels. Once the proceedings have been opened by the Chancellor, each honorand is introduced by the Public Orator with a speech in Latin and admitted to his or her new degree by the Chancellor. The Orator then delivers the Creweian Oration on the events of the past year and in commemoration of the University's benefactors. In alternate years the Professor of Poetry delivers the second part of this speech. For over 100 years All Souls College has hosted a lunch after the ceremony for the honorands, their guests, and other senior members of the collegiate University and the local community. This is then followed by a garden party hosted by the Vice-Chancellor.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Tusla paid €72m to third-party providers of children's emergency accommodation
Tusla paid over €72.5m to third-party companies providing emergency accommodation for children in State care last year. One provider received more than €17.2m in 2024 and has been paid a further €3.4m in the first quarter of this year, according to figures provided by Tusla, the child and family agency. Baig and Mirza Health Service, trading as Kare Plus South, has been the highest-paid provider for the past three years and has received €43.1m over the past four and a half years. Separately, Baig and Mirza Real Estate, which is also part of Baig and Mirza Gulf Holdings, has been paid €1.8m over the same period. Tusla paid €215.5m to 31 firms since 2021 Since 2021, Tusla has paid out €215.5m to a total of 31 companies, including €15.8m of this paid in the first three months of this year. The total spend in 2021 was €8.5m. The companies are paid to provide accommodation through Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs), which are used when residential care, foster care, and regulated emergency placements are not available. These consist of rented accommodation such as houses and hotels. According to documents released to Aontú under Freedom of Information, Tusla accommodated 66 children in hotels over the past six months. 'Tusla's use of unregulated SEAs should end' Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who obtained the figures, has called for Tusla to end its use of unregulated SEAs. Mr Tóibín said: Instead of pumping millions into the unregulated sector, the Government needs to start supporting and funding the regulated private and voluntary care sectors, and indeed foster families. The Meath TD said concerns have been raised regarding vetting standards among staff in some SEA locations. 'It is clear the system is crumbling. We need an urgent debate on the welfare of children in care,' he said. Tusla has informed Aontú that it has ceased contracts with four companies in the past two years over issues with vetting and recruitment practices. A spokesperson for Tusla said the management of SEAs has 'evolved significantly' since the implementation of the national standard operating procedure by the agency in late 2022. New companies engaging with Tusla for the provision of staffing and premises through SEAs, after 30 days of operation, must apply for registration with the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS). This application is assessed and, where a centre meets the set regulatory requirements, it is added to the national register. Only centres that have been registered are subject to inspection by ACIMS. 'Currently, aspects of the requirements under this process are being applied in a due-diligence process to all existing Special Emergency Arrangements providers,' the spokesperson said. To date, four services have obtained registration while a further 14 are under assessment. Mr Tóibín said it is 'extremely alarming' that there are 37 children missing from Tusla's care. Of these, 32 are refugees or seeking international protection in Ireland. At present, there are 489 unaccompanied minors in state care, ranging in age from 11 to 17. Almost half were referred within the last six months but the data also shows that one child has been in care for more than seven years.
The Journal
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Aontú leader says social housing waiting list figures are 'out by the population of Tullamore'
AONTÚ LEADER PEADAR Tóibín has claimed that the Government is 'understating' both homelessness figures and the numbers of people on social housing waiting lists. Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon during Leader's Questions, Tóibín said he had submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to every Local Authority and that the information he received 'contradicted the information the Government is giving out'. He said he asked all Local Authorities for the 'number of homeless people that exist throughout the State' and that the current figure provided is 16,472. The most recent figures released by the Government stood at 15,580. 'Your government is understating the number of homeless people in this state by 892 people currently,' said Tóbín. He added that he also asked Local Authorities for the number of people on housing waiting lists and that the combined figure across the State that he received was 75,000. The most recent official government figure is 58,824. 'Your ability to count the number of people who are on the housing waiting list at the moment is out by the population of Tullamore,' said Tóbín. Tóbín also asked Local Authorities about the number of council-owned homes that are currently empty, and this figure across the State is 3,779. 'Having empty homes in the middle of a housing crisis is akin to exporting food in the middle of the famine,' said Tóibín. In a statement to the PA news agency, Aontú said the highest council-owned home vacancy rate was in Cork City at 355, followed by Dublin City Council at 336, Fingal at 323 and Limerick and City Council at 315. Speaking in the Dáil, Tóibín added that the government is 'paying nearly €600 million to house people in RAS (Rental Accommodation Scheme) and HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) home while so many Local Authority homes are empty'. Tóbín asked if this was government 'incompetence' or if it was 'actually misleading the general public'. In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: 'I hate to burst your 'gotcha' moment, but I'd suggest that you might wish to interrogate your numbers'. Harris said there 'can be duplications' and people 'involved with more than one Local Authority'. Advertisement Meanwhile, Harris said that 'this is what people do when they seek to be divisive, to try and dispute official figures'. He added that these figures 'aren't calculated by government in a party political sense' and that they are calculated in a 'robust, impartial manner'. 'If we could at least have the decency to respect the impartiality and robustness of those who gather statistics in Ireland, because if we start trying to erode belief in statistics, that's part of a bigger agenda I think,' said Harris. However, Tóbín said 'you cannot be on two social housing lists simultaneously'. 'Either you're incompetent and you're not able to count the number of people who are actually on waiting lists at the moment, or you're trying to hide the fact,' said Tóbín. 'The reason why I think you're misleading the people is because you have previous on this. 'Right up to the jaws of the last general election, you were determined to give the impression that 40,000 homes were going to be built that year. 'As soon as that election was finished, it became very clear that that statement was wrong. 'This housing crisis is far too serious for misinformation,' said Tóibín. The government has previously defended supplying the public with incorrect figures in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisting that he and his party had not attempted to mislead the public with the inflated figures. Harris replied by stating that 'this is far too serious to engage in conspiracy theories'. 'You suggest I'm going around counting people here,' said Harris. 'The reality is we have robust, politically independent, impartial structures in our state. 'I want to know who in the public service you're calling 'incompetent', it's our public service and they do a bloody good job.'. 'I made the point in relation to the duplication regarding how you can report homelessness in more than one area and that didn't suit you,' said Harris. He added: 'We're working on trying to make progress – day in, day out, new ideas, big, bold decisions, every day to get to the 300,000 homes (by 2030). 'You're just simply over there throwing brickbats and engaging in conspiracy theories.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Tánaiste and Justice Minister to examine implications of case against Irish quarry activist after UN ‘SLAPP' warning
The issue arose in relation to an environmental activist who made a complaint of harassment against a quarry company. Details were revealed in the Irish Independent last week and raised in the Dáil yesterday by Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín. The quarry company last month applied for a discovery order instructing gardaí to hand over the activist's complaint for use in a defamation case against him. Gardaí did not object and the order was granted at Trim Circuit Court but is now under appeal to the High Court. It was granted despite intervention by the United Nations special rapporteur on environmental defenders, who wrote to the Government and Chief State Solicitor's Office urging them to oppose it. Rapporteur Michel Forst warned the order had widespread implications. 'If members of the public cannot complain to the police without fear that the alleged perpetrator will get access to their confidential police complaint, this will have a serious chilling effect on law and order in that State,' he wrote. 'It will also enable perpetrators to continue their intimidation and harassment with impunity.' Mr Tóibín used Dáil question time to ask the Government to get involved. 'Will you demand that the Chief State Solicitor defend the justice system or at the very least would the Minister for Justice meet with the target?' he asked. Mr Harris said he was not aware of Mr Forst's correspondence. ADVERTISEMENT 'But I will make myself aware of it now that you have brought it to my attention,' he said. 'I'll ask Minister O'Callaghan to consider your comments and revert to you directly.' The parties in the case were not named in the Dáil but they are Keegan Quarries and its principal, John Keegan, and Kieran Cummins, founder of the Eco Advocacy environmental NGO, all based in Co Meath. Mr Cummins became known to the rapporteur's office through his work on planning breaches in relation to quarries. Mr Forst reminded the Government and Chief State Solicitor that they, the gardaí and the courts had obligations under the Aarhus Convention on Environmental Justice to safeguard environmental defenders. He wrote that environmental defenders must be protected against so-called SLAPP orders – Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation. Mr Tóibín said he believed the target in this case was being subjected to a SLAPP. Along with the defamation proceedings, Keegan Quarries has initiated proceedings seeking damages for alleged trespass by Mr Cummins. Each side denies all allegations made by the other. Mr Tóibín said he had already raised concerns about SLAPPs with two ministers for justice. 'These litigations are designed never to be heard, threaten financial ruin and completely tie up individuals,' he said. 'The aim is to shut campaigners up.' Mr Harris said he expected the issue of SLAPPs would be addressed in the upcoming revision of the defamation legislation.
The Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tóibín: Aontú would keep rent pressure zones and scrap VAT on housing materials if in government
AONTÚ LEADER PEADAR Tóibín today outlined three policies that his party would adopt in an effort to resolve the housing crisis, coming off the back of the party's Ard Fheis yesterday. The Ard Fheis was held in Gormanstown, Co Meath yesterday, and was shown live on RTÉ in a signifier of the party's growth since its establishment in 2019. The party now has two TDs in Tóibín and Paul Lawless, one senator in Sarah O'Reilly, and six councillors. Among the topics discussed at the event were immigration, housing, and government spending. Today, Tóibín reiterated several of his views. He called for the housing crisis to be declared an emergency, an approach similar to other opposition parties. This would allow the government to push through policies for the public good that would not typically be permitted, such as bypassing some planning laws and objections. The housing target for this year is 41,000 homes, as set out in the programme for government. It became clear earlier this year that it was incredibly unlikely that the government would manage to meet its self-imposed housing target . Last year, the government missed out on the 40,000 homes then Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien said it was aiming for, and Housing for All plan's target of 33,450. The government has also signalled imminent change to rent pressure zones (RPZs). The rent caps are due to expire at the end of this year. Advertisement Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín speaking at the party's Ard Fheis at the City North hotel in Gormanstown. Alan Rowlette / © Alan Rowlette / © / © If Aontú were to enter government, it would keep rent pressure zones as well as scrapping VAT on housing materials, including construction of homes, Tóibín said. 'We would actually lower the VAT in terms of building homes. At the moment, you have an incredible situation where Micheál Martin is actually talking about getting rid of rent caps to families who are paying two thousand euros [a month]. 'We will keep the rent pressure zones and make it cheaper to build homes by getting rid of VAT. It is absolutely wrong that you have VAT in terms of building those homes,' Tóibín said. In February, the party leader released figures provided by the government that showed that the government had collected close to €3 billion in VAT on housing materials and construction services in 2024 , the highest amount ever collected in a single year. In 2015, the figure was set at €1.2m. 'We'd make it far easier to draw down the refurbishment grants for the 168,000 empty homes. The speed that the government is going in at the moment, in terms of those means it's going to take 115 years before those homes can be brought back into use,' Tóibín said. Operation Shamrock was also discussed. The Aontú initiative would see Irish construction workers in Canada and Australia offered a €10,000 grant to return home and work in the sector for four years. 'We would use current construction exemption regulation to build homes for those in a far speeder time than it takes at the moment.' On other issues, party delegates yesterday voted to adopt party motions including a ban on allowing anyone who has purposefully destroyed their documents to enter the country, and a ban of 'the introduction of Sharia law' or 'community courts of any religion'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
