Education: Not free here

I am genuinely shocked at what I have just read https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/exam-fees-for-the-leaving-cert-and-junior-cert-are-set-to-be-waived-this-year-41308131.html How on earth can any government justify charging secondary school pupils to sit exams. They need these qualifications to be able to access college, university and the world of work. I know that nothing is ever free, but is paid for through taxation so …

My Coronavirus diary 13

Its April 2021, we are still in level 5. Construction has restarted and all children are back in school. I feel that this is really positive, the government (who are making a total balls of their handling of the pandemic) have consistently failed and ignored Ireland’s children were right to prioritise school reopening above all …

My Coronavirus diary 8

We went to level 3 restrictions here on Wednesday. I wish I was optimistic that it will reduce the prevalence of Coronavirus cases but I’m not. I can see us heading for another total lockdown. To be fair, I think it will be the wake up call that we need. I have spent all week …

Brexit 2

So with a majority government, the Conservative MP’s on December 20th 2019, voted in favour of Britain leaving the European Union. Brexit will happen on 31st January 2020. I know nothing will obviously change but it feels huge. I live in Ireland so don’t vote in the UK but my family and friends live there. …

Are we in a parallel universe?

I reached the age of majority, i.e. voting age at 18. At 40, I have been eligible and registered to vote for 22 years. I no longer live in the UK nor am I registered to vote there but my family and friends still live there and are impacted upon the results of referenda and …

Another political post

It strikes me more and more that governments worldwide but particularly in the UK and Ireland are more interested in the needs of the few than the many. Budget after budget sees tax breaks for big business and more taxes on the already squeezed middle. The Conservative policy of austerity has seen public services savaged …