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# read-me - Today’s News

Opinion

Column: Sludgy and outdated: Why our education system is like a septic tank

46 minutes ago 275 Views No Comments

Tests, tests and more tests – but schools and colleges aren’t giving us the creativity we need in this crisis, writes Kate Katharina Ferguson.

Opinion

Column: The mortgage crisis is stoked by mistrust. Here’s how we might fix it.

13 hours ago 2,475 Views 25 Comments

Aggressive banks are making mortgage resolution impossible, writes David Hall of New Beginning – and suggests a way to restore trust between lenders and borrowers.

# read-me - Yesterday’s News

Read Me

Column: ‘Women are digging up anthills for the tiny grains inside’

Yesterday, 7:30 PM 6,784 Views 22 Comments

Children mine for gold in home-made pits, while parents risk their lives for food – Jim Clarken describes the harrowing scenes as a crisis unfolds in west Africa.

Opinion

Vote No: The Treaty will bring the EU together – in economic stagnation

Yesterday, 1:00 PM 2,553 Views 46 Comments

Confidence and stability will be the last things to emerge from this dangerous experiment, writes Michael Taft.

Opinion

Vote Yes: EU funds are like our credit union. Let’s not go to the loan sharks.

Yesterday, 1:00 PM 2,443 Views 95 Comments

A Yes to the Stability Treaty will give Ireland access to the ESM, writes Naoise Nunn – and keep us out of a potentially lethal game of chicken.

Opinion

Column: Parents bringing their children to be kneecapped. Yes, this is Ireland.

Yesterday, 7:00 AM 10,931 Views 75 Comments

Self-styled republican vigilantes are terrorising a city, writes Seamus Breslin – and perceived neglect by authorities is fuelling the fire.

# read-me - Tuesday 22 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: Another Priory Hall is coming down the tracks. Here’s why.

Tue, 7:30 PM 7,752 Views 16 Comments

Phil Hogan is planning to introduce new regulations which are meant to make for better buildings. He’s making a major mistake, writes Mike Morris.

Opinion

Column: Who are the winners and losers in the referendum campaign right now?

Tue, 7:00 AM 3,075 Views 62 Comments

With nine days to go before referendum day, Dr Jane Suiter of UCC analyses the parties and the latest polls to see how the campaign is playing out.

# read-me - Monday 21 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: Job creation is too important for party politics. Let’s work together.

Mon, 7:30 PM 2,563 Views 71 Comments

Writing for TheJournal.ie, Micheál Martin explains why Fianna Fáil’s new plan to tackle youth unemployment should be seriously considered.

Opinion

Column: National pride or bald-faced bigotry? Maybe neither, or both.

Mon, 7:15 AM 5,212 Views 72 Comments

Being proud to be Irish is sometime looked on as a social gaffe, writes Lisa McInerney, but that’s not always fair… and it’s not always the best way to figure out who really is racist…

# read-me - Sunday 20 May, 2012

Read Me

Column: Some talk about the ‘magic’ of childbirth. To me, it was horrific.

Sun, 6:30 PM 8,762 Views 36 Comments

For new mothers, the pressure can be so overwhelming it makes you ill. Lynn McDonald Byrne describes her experience of postnatal depression.

Read Me

Interview: ‘The rich and powerful don’t get hurt’ – Noam Chomsky on Occupy

Sun, 8:30 AM 3,575 Views 68 Comments

American writer, philosopher and academic Noam Chomsky speaks about the remarkable successes of the Occupy movement.

# read-me - Saturday 19 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: I put my family business on Facebook. Here’s what happened.

Sat, 7:00 PM 58,600 Views 88 Comments

Peter Faulkner was told he had to engage with social media to promote his company – but the results weren’t what he expected.

Opinion

Column: It’s time to privatise RTÉ and the DAA. Offload them now.

Sat, 8:00 AM 3,621 Views 77 Comments

The two troubled semi-states are living in fantasyland, writes Aaron McKenna. Why should we keep them there?

# read-me - Friday 18 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: Sinéad O’Connor – Ireland’s children live in a caste system

Fri, 2:05 PM 6,659 Views 58 Comments

The singer has been horrified by a report on the state of a building which houses counselling services for teenagers – and argues that it is indicative of how some children are being ignored by the State.

Opinion

Column: Extreme poverty is right in front of us – and what are we doing?

Fri, 7:30 AM 3,342 Views 52 Comments

One in five children go to bed hungry, yet State safety nets are actually being taken away, writes Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.

# read-me - Thursday 17 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: A response from an Irish taxi driver

17/05/12 9,741 Views 137 Comments

Following on from the debate about attitudes towards non-Irish national taxi drivers, one Irish driver says he has noted antipathy towards non-nationals – but that it is also important not to pigeonhole Irish cabbies.

Opinion

Column: How helping others makes you happier AND healthier

17/05/12 2,107 Views 2 Comments

Volunteering has increased dramatically in the recession. Anna Lee describes how anybody can be a volunteer – and it might even do you good.

# read-me - Wednesday 16 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: One good adult is crucial for young people. I can vouch for that.

16/05/12 3,590 Views 3 Comments

A new survey shines a light on the challenges facing young people like me – and shows we need good adults, writes Tim Smyth.

Opinion

Column: It’s time for Ireland to follow Obama on gay marriage. Here’s why.

16/05/12 3,744 Views 156 Comments

Three quarters of Irish people and all the political parties already support same-sex marriage, writes Kieran Rose of GLEN. The pressure is now on to introduce it to Ireland.

# read-me - Tuesday 15 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: Ireland needs an international safeguard for our children

15/05/12 1,204 Views 5 Comments

We need to draw a line under our tragic history of child abuse – and a new international standard is the perfect opportunity, writes Tanya Ward of the Children’s Rights Alliance.

Opinion

Column: To tackle Ireland’s problems, we need to vote No

15/05/12 3,707 Views 115 Comments

We need a deal on the bank debt, writes Declan Ganley – and voting No will give us the strongest hand in the future.

# read-me - Monday 14 May, 2012

From Business ETC Opinion

Column: Nick Leeson – My heart says ‘No’, but my head says ‘Yes’

14/05/12 4,666 Views 86 Comments

TheJournal.ie columnist nails his colours to the mast and says that a ‘Yes’ vote is the only message to send out if we want access to funds at the keenest rates possible.

# read-me - Sunday 13 May, 2012

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Column: My experience in an adult mental health unit

13/05/12 8,639 Views 50 Comments

Last year, Ciaran Behan was admitted to a mental health unit. He describes the terror he felt – and what happened over the next two months.

From The Daily Edge Sitdown Sunday

Sitdown Sunday: 7 deadly reads

13/05/12 5,630 Views 1 Comment

The very best of the week’s writing from around the web.

Opinion

Column: ‘Your normal freedoms do not exist over here’ – daily life in Afghanistan

13/05/12 2,987 Views 10 Comments

Noel Scanlon moved to Afghanistan for work after the Irish economy collapsed in 2008. Here, he writes about how life on military bases is very different from home.

# read-me - Saturday 12 May, 2012

Read Me

Column: When Bob Marley came to Dublin, things changed for me

12/05/12 4,504 Views 20 Comments

Bob Marley’s 1980 concert at Dalymount Park shook up a conservative Ireland. Denis Buckley remembers his schoolboy trip to the gig, just months before Marley’s death.

Opinion

Opinion: ‘Rejection could force Ireland to greater austerity’

12/05/12 3,512 Views 160 Comments

On a ‘Yes’ vote: IBEC Director General Danny McCoy says that voting against the fiscal compact could bring dangerous economic instability and uncertainty.

Opinion

Column: ‘The treaty is risky and dangerously experimental’

12/05/12 2,455 Views 52 Comments

On a ‘No’ vote: Economist Terrence McDonough says evoking fear in people over the recession is not an appropriate move by government.

# read-me - Friday 11 May, 2012

Read Me

Column: Here’s Irish pride – my family are rebuilding the World Trade Center

11/05/12 6,950 Views 36 Comments

Kerry O’Shea describes the experience of her father and brother, working dozens of storeys up on the new towers.

Opinion

Column: ‘I did not tell people about my termination as I did not want to be judged’

11/05/12 3,561 Views 84 Comments

A reader shares her traumatic experience of travelling to the UK for an abortion.

# read-me - Thursday 10 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: ‘I sat in his chair and it suited me’ – my day shadowing the Taoiseach

10/05/12 4,012 Views 26 Comments

Cian O’Connor received a round of applause from the Dáil and got to try out the Taoiseach’s chair for size as part of national Job Shadow Day. Here, he writes about what his day in Leinster House was like.

# read-me - Wednesday 9 May, 2012

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Column: ‘The HSE think they’re too big to fight, but I won’t be silenced’

09/05/12 4,322 Views 13 Comments

Jack and Jill’s CEO Jonathan Irwin says he won’t go away until the domiciliary care allowance crisis is sorted out.

Opinion

Column: Tough, lonely and very risky – welcome to life as an entrepreneur

09/05/12 3,580 Views 16 Comments

Unemployed people who start companies are branded “involuntary entrepreneurs” – but they should be hailed as heroes, writes business owner Peter Faulkner.

# read-me - Tuesday 8 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: Cronyism and corruption – one quick change would help fight them

08/05/12 3,437 Views 20 Comments

It would be swift work to repeal the 2003 Freedom of Information Act, but it could have far-reaching consequences, writes Donal Ó Brolcháin.

# read-me - Monday 7 May, 2012

Opinion

Column: This is a unique island – and it’s time we regained our pride

07/05/12 9,285 Views 199 Comments

Ireland has a heritage that is the envy of the world, writes Jillian Godsil. We should remember that when building our future.

Opinion

Column: Here’s what you REALLY need to know before emigrating…

07/05/12 9,535 Views 56 Comments

Pack a hood, forget the hairdryer and bring more money than you think – recent emigrant Claire O’Keeffe on what anyone following in her footsteps should know.

# read-me - Sunday 6 May, 2012

Read Me

Humiliated, tortured or executed: The little-known story of the Irish POWs

06/05/12 10,496 Views 51 Comments

Some 650 Irish soldiers were taken prisoner by the Japanese during WW2. They were starved, beaten, even crucified – but showed incredible bravery, writes historian Robert Widders.

From The Daily Edge Sitdown Sunday

Sitdown Sunday: 7 deadly reads

06/05/12 6,622 Views 3 Comments

The very best of the week’s writing from around the web.

# read-me - Saturday 5 May, 2012

From Business ETC Opinion

Column: Why does a tech startup succeed? Here’s the recipe…

05/05/12 5,000 Views 16 Comments

Did you know the most promising startup founders in the US are from Limerick? John Gleeson looks at what we can learn from them.

1 2 3 4 5

referendum

fiscal compact

NTMA: No access to ESM would mean no access to markets either

Patricia McKenna and Thomas Pringle are both seeking a referendum on the ESM treaty.
Referendum
Large majority of voters in favour of referendum on ESM treaty
Opinion
Vote No: The Treaty will bring the EU together – in economic stagnation
The credit union: an Irish institution
Opinion
Vote Yes: EU funds are like our credit union. Let’s not go to the loan sharks.
your questions
What do YOU want to know about the referendum?

Your say

View more polls
Poll: Are you satisfied with your quality of life?

Poll: Are you satisfied with your quality of life?

A NEW REPORT from the OECD has suggested people living in Ireland have some of the best lives in the world, with Ireland among the top countries in its Better Life Index.

The index finds that life expectancy, low pollution, positive experiences and a healthy work-life balance are among the factors that contribute to happy lives in Ireland.

It did note, however, that the gap between the rich and poor is wider in Ireland than elsewhere, while the gender gap in educational performance is also larger than average.

Today we’re simply wondering whether (assuming you live in Ireland) you’re satisfied with your quality of life.


Poll Results:





Read: How good is life in Ireland?


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Read Me

Selected opinions from around the web
Kate Katharina Ferguson
Column: Sludgy and outdated: Why our education system is like a septic tank
By Kate Katharina Ferguson - @KateKatharina

Tests, tests and more tests – but schools and colleges aren’t giving us the creativity we need in this crisis, writes Kate Katharina Ferguson.

David Hall
Column: The mortgage crisis is stoked by mistrust. Here’s how we might fix it.
By David Hall - @davidhall75

Aggressive banks are making mortgage resolution impossible, writes David Hall of New Beginning – and suggests a way to restore trust between lenders and borrowers.

Jim Clarken
Column: ‘Women are digging up anthills for the tiny grains inside’
By Jim Clarken

Children mine for gold in home-made pits, while parents risk their lives for food – Jim Clarken describes the harrowing scenes as a crisis unfolds in west Africa.

Michael Taft
Vote No: The Treaty will bring the EU together – in economic stagnation
By Michael Taft - @notesonthefront

Confidence and stability will be the last things to emerge from this dangerous experiment, writes Michael Taft.

Naoise Nunn
Vote Yes: EU funds are like our credit union. Let’s not go to the loan sharks.
By Naoise Nunn - @naoisen

A Yes to the Stability Treaty will give Ireland access to the ESM, writes Naoise Nunn – and keep us out of a potentially lethal game of chicken.

Seamus Breslin
Column: Parents bringing their children to be kneecapped. Yes, this is Ireland.
By Seamus Breslin

Self-styled republican vigilantes are terrorising a city, writes Seamus Breslin – and perceived neglect by authorities is fuelling the fire.

Mike Morris
Column: Another Priory Hall is coming down the tracks. Here’s why.
By Mike Morris - @nyderoleary

Phil Hogan is planning to introduce new regulations which are meant to make for better buildings. He’s making a major mistake, writes Mike Morris.

Jane Suiter
Column: Who are the winners and losers in the referendum campaign right now?
By Jane Suiter - @JaneSuit

With nine days to go before referendum day, Dr Jane Suiter of UCC analyses the parties and the latest polls to see how the campaign is playing out.

Micheál Martin
Column: Job creation is too important for party politics. Let’s work together.
By Micheál Martin

Writing for TheJournal.ie, Micheál Martin explains why Fianna Fáil’s new plan to tackle youth unemployment should be seriously considered.

Lisa McInerney
Column: National pride or bald-faced bigotry? Maybe neither, or both.
By Lisa McInerney - @SwearyLady

Being proud to be Irish is sometime looked on as a social gaffe, writes Lisa McInerney, but that’s not always fair… and it’s not always the best way to figure out who really is racist…

From BusinessEtc

HP Ireland: job losses will impact ‘every business and region’ HP Ireland

HP Ireland: job losses will impact ‘every business and region’

Shareholders file lawsuit over Facebook flotation
Facebook
Shareholders file lawsuit over Facebook flotation
Applause in auction room as woman buys back brother’s repossessed home
Irish auction
Applause in auction room as woman buys back brother’s repossessed home

From The Daily Edge

Caption competition: What are Enda Kenny and David Cameron talking about? Buds

Caption competition: What are Enda Kenny and David Cameron talking about?

Weatherwatch: temperatures over 20°C, sunshine staying for the weekend
Weather
Weatherwatch: temperatures over 20°C, sunshine staying for the weekend
VIDEO: Phew, that was a close one…
Lucky Escape
VIDEO: Phew, that was a close one…
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From The Score

McShane will ‘probably’ make squad for training camp – Trap Decision time

McShane will ‘probably’ make squad for training camp – Trap

I’ll play it cool at the Euros, Mario Balotelli warns Ireland
Euro 2012
I’ll play it cool at the Euros, Mario Balotelli warns Ireland
Rushe: Dubs don’t have discipline problem
Capital Account
Rushe: Dubs don’t have discipline problem

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  • In pictures: Fun in the sun… and it’s like this all week
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  • VIDEO: Phew, that was a close one…
  • Mental health services inadequate, prisons below standards – Amnesty
  • Referendum roundup: 8 days to go
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Poll: Are you satisfied with your quality of life?
How good is life in Ireland?

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