Léargas

I am in New York this week for the annual Clinton Global Initiative event. It is the 8th year of the CGI and in that time it has raised billions of dollars for underdeveloped and struggling nations around the world, as well as investing in projects in more developed countries aimed at creating jobs, improving the environment and promoting education and health This week the CGI is bringing together more than 1,000 people from the world of politics and business and community. It includes current and former heads of state as well as NGOs, business and community leaders. Its focus this year is on designing solutions to empower girls and women to be full participants in the global economy, to spur development, and improve global health and technology. The idea behind the CGI is simplicity itself. To provide a location where business leaders, politicians, non-governmental organisations, activists and representatives of charitable foundations, can come together, talk about issues affectin...

For much of the media the summer is the political silly season. It’s a time when they fill column inches and news reports with fluff and nonsense. For the people of north Belfast the summer was far from silly. This year’s orange marching season and the blatantly sectarian actions of some orange bands as they passed St. Patrick’s Church in Donegal Street; the behaviour of the orange order at Ardoyne; the UVF fuelled attacks on the PSNI around Carlisle Circus; and the defence of all this by leading unionist politicians, was a reminder of the undercurrent of sectarianism which remains a major problem in the north. South of the border the disastrous health policies of the Irish government, and their impact on health provision and hospital services, has seen growing public dissatisfaction with that government. This was brought into sharp focus when the HSE announced cuts of €130 million in August. There was immediate and vocal public outrage at its proposal to cut the personal ass...

Did you know that it is estimated that every day almost 3000 people across the world take their own lives – that’s an estimated one million people every year? But the crisis goes beyond that. The World Health Organisation says that ‘for every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives.’ Moreover, the statistics almost certainly disguise the true extent of the crisis. Prof Kevin Malone of the School of Medicine and Medical Science UCD and St. Vincent’s University Hospital gave evidence on suicide to the Dáil Joint Committee on Health and Children two years ago and reported that a study he carried out into suicide in 23 countries concluded that suicide levels are significantly higher than the official statistics suggest. Monday was World Suicide Prevention Day. It is part of a week long international campaign to increase awareness of this issue. And it is a hugely difficult time for those families enduring the loss of a loved one. This will be the 10t...

 The Rachel Corrie just before it sailed from Dundalk in April 2010 The holiday is over! It was great while it lasted. The weather was generally good and allowed for long walks across hills and mountain tops, and up country roads and along beautiful, pristine sandy beaches. It was a time to recharge the batteries and prepare for the work ahead. And there was time to write. Observant readers will have noted in the last blog my admission that, ‘I’m trying to write a book of short stories. Or at least I’m trying to start thinking about it.’ In fact I did a bit of both. I thought about it and I wrote several short stories. So, all I need now is to find time in the midst of what will be a hugely busy period ahead, to think and write a few more. But that is going to be difficult given the parades issue in the north; the growing crisis in the health service in the south, and the necessary focus on preparing Sinn Féin’s alternative budget proposal. And much more. I consciou...