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Articles by Saoirse McHugh
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Poll: Should TV cameras be allowed to film high-profile cases in Irish courts? WITHIN THE NEXT few months, crown courts in England and Wales will allow television cameras in for the first time to cover parts of the trial process. Sky News reports that draft legislation is being laid before parliament today, which will pave the way for cameras to cover some of the most high-profile criminal cases. Filming has been permitted in some Court of Appeal cases in the UK since 2013.
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Poll: Do you think the use of credit cards for betting should be banned? THE UK’S GAMBLING watchdog has announced that it will ban the use of credit cards for placing bets from this April, Sky News has reported. The move aims to stop vulnerable customers getting into serious debt; research indicates that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards are problem gamblers. The ban will come into force on 14 April. So we’re asking you: should we introduce the same ban on credit card betting here?
Saoirse McHugh: Climate denial is dangerous at this stage, and the media has a case to answer
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about our apathy in the face of climate change. For years now, as natural disasters increase in scale and unpredictability, I have expected each one to be the moment when the media begins to panic and shortly after, people respond and demand action.
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Poll: When do you open your Christmas presents? CHRISTMAS ISN’T ALL about presents, but for many people it’s an important part of the festive season. Some people like to open their gifts on Christmas Eve or first thing in the morning on Christmas Day, but others prefer post-dinner or after a religious service if they’re attending one. The exact timing is a bone of contention in many homes, with some choosing to stagger the process. We want to know: When do you open your Christmas presents?
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Poll: Did your car insurance premium increase this year? THE PRICE OF car insurance continued to be a political football this year, as opposition parties criticised the government for failing to do anything about the rising cost of premiums. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were at loggerheads in the Dáil recently as they made conflicting claims about whether the price of motor insurance has risen or fallen in recent years. We examine the issue in a FactCheck today.
Saoirse McHugh: Planting trees is one area where we can't wait for the government to come around
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. Driving from Achill to Dublin, it seems that the pace of tree cutting and hedge removal is greater than ever before. In every single county, ancient trees and well-established hedgerows have been obliterated in the most barbaric manner. Mayo seems to have had a particularly savage spate of tree felling for no apparent reason.
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Poll: Would you support a three-year rent freeze in Ireland? THE DÁIL IS set to debate legislation aimed at freezing rents for the next three years today. The bill, tabled by Sinn Féin and due to be voted on next Thursday, comes after Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy narrowly survived a no-confidence motion last week. Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) laws were first introduced by the government in December 2016 and are aimed at tackling spiralling rents by capping annual rent rises by 4% in certain areas.
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Poll: Will you be giving to charity this Christmas? PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins yesterday lit the Áras Christmas tree and said his thoughts are with those in society who are homeless, marginalised and vulnerable.
Saoirse McHugh: Carbon tax is a red herring, the real climate culprit is the global tax system
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. The government’s recent domestic carbon tax has received a huge amount of attention. Oftentimes it is the first thing that is mentioned by some politicians and media personalities when talking about climate breakdown. Because of this, it has skewed public perception of both what climate action means and how effective a measure a carbon tax is.
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Poll: Will you watch the Late Late Toy Show? IT’S BEGINNING TO look a lot like Christmas folks. And to ring in the festive season, the Late Late Toy Show airs tonight on RTÉ One at 9.30pm. This year’s Toy Show theme is inspired by the world of Disney’s Frozen with host Ryan Tubridy revealing that he will be playing the part of snowman Olaf. So, today we’re wondering: Will you be tuning in to watch the Toy Show this year?
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Poll: Will you be shopping this Black Friday? BLACK FRIDAY IS almost upon us again and though it started as a phenomenon in the US, the flash sale has become a staple in the Irish and global market. It’s estimated that €250m will be spent by Irish shoppers this Friday, between online and high street retailers. In a bid to tackle the unofficial American shopping holiday, Irish retailers started a new shopping trend last year, Green Friday.
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Poll: Should it be mandatory for dog owners to carry litter bags? A NEW SINN Féin Bill proposes to make it mandatory for all dog owners to carry litter bags, or face a fine.
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Poll: Should penalty points and fines be based on how far above the speed limit drivers are caught? DRIVERS WOULD FACE graduated speed penalties based on how far above the speed limit they are caught travelling, under proposals Transport Minister Shane Ross is set to bring to Cabinet. Under the system, drivers who exceed the limit by more than 30km/hr will face a court prosecution and a €2,000 fine, the Irish Independent reported this morning.
Saoirse McHugh: The end of turf-cutting brings opportunities to increase our energy independence
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. As pressure mounts to switch to renewable energy sources, Ireland lags stubbornly behind most other EU countries. Ireland’s energy sector accounted for over 60% of the country’s total emissions in 2016, and yet it has been slow to embrace alternatives.
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Poll: Should there be a ban on selling sweets beside shop checkouts? A PLAN TO cut the rate of childhood obesity in Ireland by half in the next decade has been launched by the Irish Heart Foundation today. An Ipsos MRBI poll carried out in conjunction with the foundation’s Childhood Obesity Manifesto has found that 74% of people support removing unhealthy products from the end of aisles and checkouts.
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Poll: Is legislation banning alcohol advertising near schools and creches a good idea? A BAN ON alcohol advertising within 200 metres of a school, creche or a local authority playground will be in place from Wednesday, the Irish Times has reported. The new measures, being introduced by Health Minister Simon Harris, will also extend to advertisements on buses and trains and bus stops and train stations.
Saoirse McHugh: We need to talk about capitalism
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. A most ludicrous situation is taking place in which we are disrupting weather systems we have relied on for centuries, poisoning drinking water, destroying habitats that provide food and fuel and pushing ourselves outside of the relatively stable climate we have enjoyed for the past few thousand years.
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Poll: Should people be allowed to smoke on hospital grounds? NO-SMOKING POLICIES seem to be widely flouted at two of Dublin’s maternity hospitals, six years after it was announced that the grounds would be smoke-free. In November 2013, the Coombe, alongside the Rotunda and the National Maternity Hospital, all became tobacco-free campuses. This meant that smoking shelters were dismantled and cigarette bins were removed in line with HSE policy.
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EU MEMBER STATES have agreed to another Brexit extension. President of the European Council Donald Tusk today confirmed that EU leaders have approved an extension until 31 January 2020. The UK can leave the bloc earlier if the House of Commons and the European Parliament ratify the Withdrawal Agreement before then. What do you think: Will Britain leave the EU by 31 January? Poll Results: Yes, it will happen in January (2086) Yes, it will happen before the end of 2019 (724)
Saoirse McHugh: The Shannon LNG should not be considered any further by the government
IN HER FORTNIGHTLY column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. The Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal has dominated my social media timelines this week, but the important issue hasn’t captured the amount of attention it deserves. The Shannon terminal would bring in large amounts of fracked shale gas from the US.
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Poll: Will Boris Johnson's Brexit deal pass in the House of Commons? BORIS JOHNSON has a deal. Now, the House of Commons has to vote for it. The same parliament that rejected Theresa May’s deal three times will now have a chance to accept or reject the plan negotiated after a frenetic few days in Brussels. All eyes are on the DUP, which has said that it will vote against the deal tomorrow during a rare Saturday sitting of parliament.
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Poll: Should the privatisation of Irish bus services continue? THE PRIVATISATION OF parts of Dublin’s bus network initially proved controversial. Now, British-owned firm Go-Ahead, which won a contract in 2017 to run 24 routes previously operated by Dublin Bus, has been criticised for failing to meet its targets. Almost half of services operated by the company have so far failed to meet punctuality targets set out in the company’s contract with the National Transport Authority.
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Poll: Should we bring James Joyce's remains back to Ireland? DUBLIN COUNCILLORS HAVE tabled a motion seeking to have the remains of writer James Joyce and his wife Nora Barnacle repatriated to Ireland. The repatriation would be ahead of the centenary of the publication of Ulysses, which was first published in Dublin in February 1922.
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Poll: Do you think taller buildings will ease Ireland's housing crisis? WITH STILL NO end in sight for Ireland’s housing crisis, some argue relaxing height restriction on buildings could help ease the problem. Others argue it’s an expensive option and doesn’t make housing more affordable for the average person.
Saoirse McHugh: Fast fashion is hard to escape, but it is damaging our environment
In her fortnightly column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. WHEN WE THINK about living sustainably or reducing our environmental impact, the most obvious lifestyle changes include reducing air travel and altering our diets to lessen the amount of animal product we consume.
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Poll: Have you ever witnessed a racist incident on public transport? In August, the National Transport Authority launched a week-long public campaign to highlight racism experienced by both staff and passengers on public transport in Ireland. The campaign was part of a nationwide effort to highlight the frequency of racist comments, harassment and physical attacks occurring across the country.
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Poll: Do you prefer tea or coffee? TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL Coffee Day, something you may or may not have been aware of. This year, the International Coffee Organization is working to highlight the plight of coffee farmers and the threat they are facing to their livelihoods. “While the price of a cup of coffee in your local café has never been higher, the amount that coffee farmers are paid for the beans they produce is at an all-time low.
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Poll: Do you think Ireland should implement a rental freeze? DUBLIN MIGHT BE experiencing surging rents, leaving many people feeling squeezed, but it isn’t alone. Berlin’s government has been looking at a proposed law to freeze rents in the capital for five years from 2020 after rental increases caused tenants to take to the streets in protest. The law is still in development, with some policy makers and property companies reacting skeptically to the caps.
Saoirse McHugh: Community-led rewilding could bring life back to the countryside
In her fortnightly column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. OVER THE LAST two years, the idea of rewilding has enjoyed an explosion in popularity. There are articles written almost weekly advocating for everything from leaving roadside verges uncut to reintroducing wolves. It has come to encompass a whole range of measures which all have the same basic premise at their core: allow nature to do its own thing.
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Poll: Will you watch the Rugby World Cup? THE RUGBY WORLD Cup will begin in Japan today. Twenty teams will take part in the tournament, which is due to conclude on 2 November. Ireland’s head coach Joe Schmidt today delivered a positive injury update on Joey Carbery, Rob Kearney and Keith Earls, but none of the trio were deemed fit enough to be involved in the team’s opening match against Scotland on Sunday. Ireland is also due to play hosts Japan, and Russia and Samoa.
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Poll: Would you watch a remake of The Princess Bride? MANY HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS have been remade in recent years and there could soon be another film to add to that list. Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra has said “very famous people whose names I won’t use” want to remake Norman Lear’s The Princess Bride, Variety reports.
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Poll: Should the Government reduce the tax on alcohol in light of Brexit? THE DRINKS INDUSTRY has called for the excise tax on alcohol to be reduced by 15% over the next two budgets to offset the loss of revenue from the dropping value of sterling. The lobby group described current excise duties as “uncompetitive” but the HSE and Health Minister Simon Harris are continuing to examine ways to reduce Ireland’s alcohol intake.
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Poll: Should lobby regulations be tightened up for government officials joining tech companies? WITH A NUMBER of government officials taking up jobs in the policy departments of big tech companies, there has been calls to tighten lobby rules in Ireland. In recent years, a number of former government staff have gone on to join companies such as Facebook and Google.
Saoirse McHugh: Achill has shown me the link between climate action and rural regeneration
In her fortnightly column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. THE FIRST TWO weeks in September are always difficult to get used to here on Achill. Almost overnight restaurants close up for the winter, the beaches empty, and hundreds of people leave their holiday homes until they come back for St Patrick’s day or the May bank holiday. During these months the place can feel desolate.
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Poll: Will you be watching the All-Ireland camogie final this weekend? GALWAY MEET KILKENNY in Croke Park on Sunday in the All-Ireland Senior Championship camogie final. It’s the biggest day of the year in the camogie calendar and with three finals set for Croke Park at senior, intermediate and junior level, there are hopes that attendance could break 25,000. Interest has grown in recent years and with the games live on RTÉ it’s set to be a day full of action for fans.
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Poll: Should UK MPs vote to extend the current Brexit deadline? LAST NIGHT, UK MPs voted to debate a bill today that would extend the current Brexit deadline to 31 January 2020 at the earliest. MPs now have the chance to pass all stages of Labour MP Hilary Benn’s bill as last night’s motion means the debate on Benn’s bill has to happen before 5pm this Friday. It is thought it will be voted on today and then go to the House of Lords tomorrow.
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Poll: Who do you want to become the biggest party in the British government if there is a general election? THE BRITISH HOUSE of Commons returns today, and it’s already shaping up to be an eventful week in politics across the Irish Sea. Today, MPs will vote on a bill that will try to prevent a no-deal Brexit and force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit deadline if he can’t strike a deal with Brussels in the next few weeks.
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Poll: Do you think electric scooters are a suitable green alternative mode of transport? THE PROSPECT OF travelling past stalled traffic without moving your legs, yet still getting to that meeting on time, has sparked an interest in electric scooters in some urban areas. Part of their appeal is their green credentials as e-scooters don’t emit greenhouse gases or add to traffic congestion like cars.
Saoirse McHugh: How Ireland can help in fighting the Amazon rainforest fires
In her fortnightly column for TheJournal.ie, Saoirse McHugh of the Green Party writes about what we can do as individuals in the face of climate chaos. HORRIFIC IMAGES OF thousands of fires sweeping through the Amazon have dominated the news recently. This iconic rainforest is now a microcosm of the battle between capitalism and life on earth. The imagery is stark. Blackened, barren land runs right up to dense, old growth forest and enormous clouds of smoke cover the continent.
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Poll: Does clamping cars reduce traffic? NEW FIGURES HAVE revealed that an average of 129 motorists are clamped in Dublin every day. A controversial measure at the time, clamping in the capital turns 21 this month after being introduced in August 1998 as a way of reducing traffic congestion. The new figures have shown that 23,383 vehicles were clamped in the first six months of 2019. About 17% of which were for drivers who had parked in legal spaces but seen their parking fee elapsed.
Tá uair na cinniúna buailte linn maidir le hathrú aeráide alt ón iarrthóir MEP Saoirse McHugh
Is í Saoirse McHugh an t-iarrthóir Glas sa toghchán Eorpach do cheantar an Iarthuaiscirt/Meán Tíre ar 24 Bealtaine. Is gníomhaí aeráide agus feirmeoir orgánach as Oileán Acla í. Ní raibh cóir shóisialta chomh tábhachtach riamh agus atá anois. Tá speiceas i ndiaidh speicis ag éag ag ráta as cuimse, tá na haigéin ag fáil bháis agus patrúin dothuartha aimsire ag baint ón gcumas atá againn bia a sholáthair.
Opinion: Small farmers need to wake up and realise that the big farming lobby doesn't represent their interests
ON THE STORM-swept cliffs and mountains here on Achill island, only the best breed of sheep can survive and it takes an even tougher farmer. Most Achill sheep farmers fall into the 41% of farmers which Teagasc declares are economically vulnerable. They work hard for what they get but it’s not enough on its own to support a family. The result is that the older men tend to do this work, while the young emigrate, schools close and houses sit empty for most of the year.
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