Reboot Republic Podcast Brough To You By The Tortoise Shack Ireland

Reboot Republic is the innovative Podcast that delves beyond the headlines and soundbites and pulls up the roots of our Social Crises to unearth progressive solutions. We talk to world leading experts, politicians, activists and everyday change-makers. This not about tinkering around the edges. Hosted by Lecturer of Social Policy in Maynooth University and Social Justice Campaigner Dr Rory Hearne and independent podcast nerd Tony Groves, we look beyond the political speak for real, globally tried and tested solutions. Reboot Republic aims to be the podcast for an optimistic and inclusive future and not the polarised present. @RebootPod

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Make The Shift with Leilani Farha

Having recently completed her term as UN Special Rapporteur for Housing, Leilani Farha rejoined us on the pod to discuss her time in the role and what she is doing now.

We discuss the financialisation of housing, the impact Covid-19 has had on homelessness and the emergency measures that there can be no going back from. Leilani also explains what her new initiative makethshift.org is and how she is continuing to advocate for the Right to Housing now.

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John Harris
Live in LockDown

Guardian Columnist, features writer and co-creator of the excellent series Anywhere But Westminster, John Harris joined us along an audience of our Tortoise Shack members for a conversation about the UK’s response to Covid-19 and how it’s exposing and deepening the inequalities that already existed pre-pandemic.

We also discuss what might be around the corner politically and economically; we even almost nostalgically talk about Brexit before a Q&A at the end.

Thanks to John for his time and to our members for joining us.

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#NoGoingBack
Dr Gabrielle Colleran

We were delighted to be joined again on the pod by Consultant Paediatric Radiologist at the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street and the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Gabrielle Colleran.

Gabrielle talks to us about the reality of where we were pre-Covid-19 and where we are now. We discuss the very real danger of people who need medical care not seeking it by avoiding the hospitals and we go into the groupthink that is being used to silence debate on the solutions to our predicament and ideas on how we move forward to a health system based on need rather than ability to pay.

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Dr Niall Muldoon
The Children’s Ombudsman

Covid-19 has seen huge changes to how we live our lives. But as social distancing becomes the norm, we bring you a talk given by the Children’s Ombudsman and friend of the pod, Dr Niall Muldoon. Niall talks about the work of his office and speaks passionately about the real lived experiences of children living in emergency accommodation and “family hubs”. That nearly 4,000 children are homeless in Ireland is already a crisis, now in the face of a global pandemic, it is an emergency that requires immediate attention. This talk was part of the NUI Maynooth, New Public Housing Conference.

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Orla Hegarty
New Public Housing

We have seen large parts of the commentariat declare that we must build smaller units up into the Dublin skyline to tackle the housing crisis. The only problem with that is there’s no evidence that this race to the bottom will work. In this short podcast Assistant Professor at UCD’s School of Architecture, Orla Hegarty, outlines how real livable communities can be built and delivered at prices not beyond the average person. She gives the facts around the land profit extraction and bursts a few myths of the “build up to the sky” merchants.

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#GE2020
In The National Interest

Fine Gael seem to have forgotten that all the parties of the Dáil stood by and assisted in delivering a stable (but ineffective) government throughout the Brexit process. Now that they’ve lost they seem to want to take the ball and go home. We talk about the need for all sides to be grown ups now and the need for a no red lines talks.

Then Solidarity PBP’s newly re-elected Paul Murphy joins us to discuss what 3 things he wants to see as front and centre in a Left Unity Government.

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The Results
An Epic Day

If anything the Exit Poll underestimated the Broad Left Vote and while FF/FG might end up with more seats than SF, the Broad Left is the real winner. The people have said they no longer want a €5er in tax cuts and poorly funded public services and the people have said that politicians who think accountability is only for the working class will no longer be tolerated.

To talk about all this and what it might mean I’m joined by 2 candidates who are very likely to be TD’s in the coming hours: Green Party’s Dublin Central, Neasa Hourigan and Sinn Féin’s Meath East, Darren O’Rourke.

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#VoteLeft
Emmet Kirwan

In this podcast, our 100th official episode, we explore that pent up desire for change and for a better society. We dive into how the Policies of Austerity have torn up the social contract and given people the courage to see through the Project Fear nonsense and we call on the Leaders of the Broad Left to make a statement of Unity before the polls open this Saturday. For our money, there is nothing more electric than Emmet Kirwan in full flow and he is in full flow here. #VoteLeft

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#GE2020
A Childcare Crisis

Ahead of the Early Years Alliance protest on Wednesday, Reboot Republic hosted a #GE2020 childcare & early childhood education special. Montessori teacher, Eva Lawes, explains that workers have had enough of low pay & lack of recognition, Manager, Jessica Lee, outlines the developmental importance of attachment & early years care, while SIPTU organiser of the Big Start campaign, Darragh O Connor, outlines a plan for how Ireland can create a system of quality early years child care & education.

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#GE2020
A Progressive Agenda

We talk to Dr Tom McDonnell, Director with the Nevin Economic Research Institute and Dr Tricia Kielty, Head of Policy with St Vincent De Paul, about the General Election and the economy. We discuss the folly of tax cuts when huge investment is required in health, childcare and housing, also that when it comes to tax cuts its always the higher income earners that benefit. The fiscal space is explained and dissected and a few myths are busted – such as the idea that a Left led government with higher tax and higher investment would be bad for the economy and scare off investors.

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#GE2020
Disability Rights

We went to the Irish Wheelchair Associations offices to talk with Chair of Inclusion Ireland, Lorraine Dempsey and IWA’s Advocacy Officer, Joan Carty, to ask are those with disabilities equal citizens in this Republic. We discuss with Lorraine and Joan the reality facing people with a disability. We hear about the shocking recent cuts to disability services budgets and talk about the need for wider conversations about community inclusion of those who are different.

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Home
For Good

Rory has worked with a group for the last 2 years and yesterday say the launch of their campaign to introduce the right to housing into the Irish Constitution, Home For Good. We were there to cover it. You will hear from Rory about the ambitions for the campaign and the reason it is something that is so vital. Then you will hear speeches by Independent Senator, Colette Kelleher, Mercy Law’s Managing Solicitor, Rebecca Keatinge and former Barnardo’s CEO, Fergus Finlay.

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Dr Laura Bambrick
A Fair Wage

Ireland has the highest income inequality in the EU, but what does that mean? Well, our guest is Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and her paper into income disparity is a real eye opener.
Laura tells us about how she went from working in the Students Union Shop in Trinity to doing he PhD in Oxford.

She also reveals how a recent ICTU report into Irish registered companies showed that it can take up to 212 years for the lowest paid person in a business to earn the same as one years salary of the CEO’s. You don’t want to miss this.

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Professor John Sweeney
#GreenNewDeal

We keep hearing terms like Just Transition and Green New Deal. But will they really mean to you and me? Our guest is Professor John Sweeney and over the past 30 years he has published (including contributing to a a Nobel Prize report) papers and articles on Climatology, Climate Change and Air Pollution.

We discuss the current Government’s plans and their efficacy, what a Just Transition would mean and how a Green New Deal could radically change the way we live our lives, in many cases for the better.