Irish Politics, Current Affairs and Magazine Archive - Politico.ie

Every so often, usually on the initiative of a frenzied Minister for Justice or histrionics from opposition justice spokespersons, legislation is enacted to provide for some harebrained initiative to deal with the latest crime “wave”. Such has been the electronic monitoring of known or suspected criminals. Enabling provisions allowing for this were introduced in the Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007. But nothing has happened and for reasons that might have been obvious at the time.

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The Millenium Development Goals on maternal health stipulate that developing countries must “reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) [of 1992].” Malawi is one such country. Its MMR in 1992 was 620 per 100,000 births; it is now 1,100. In 2008, 6,600 Malawian mothers will die in childbirth. Add a comment

Internationally acclaimed Irish artist James Coleman is probably best known for his slide-tape works, whereby he investigates the “psychological, social and historic conditioning of perception”. Add a comment

New legislation has been enacted allowing for three more District Court judges to oversee the Children's Courts. These judges will help speed up the handling of cases involving children and reduce the number of repeat remands made, where a child is remanded in bail or custody until the next appearance.

A report conducted in 2005 into the Children's Court, “The Children's Court: A Children's Rights Audit” found that a vast majority (82 per cent of cases) were remanded or adjourned. The report said: “As well as being an unnecessary waste of resources, it (adjournments) also delays the final determination of the charges against young people, causing many of them to enter a cycle of offending, broken bail conditions and court appearances... the delays which adjournments cause also reduce the connection between the offence and the sanction imposed.”

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Immortalised in the photography of Robert Capa, the literature of Hemingway and Dali's art, the Spanish Civil War was a turning point in Europe's troubled history. The Instituto Cervantes in Dublin is currently exhibiting a selection of posters from that period sourced from the Pablo Iglesias Foundation Collection. Add a comment

One district court judge claimed (and was paid) €82,240 last year. Of this, €25,958 was for travel expenses, and €56,282 for subsistence expenses. Unlike other judges, this judge claimed nothing for judicial attire. The identity of the judge has not been disclosed by the courts service. A total of €2.3 million in expenses was claimed by judges in 2007.

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Sailing against light winds in Qingdao: Phil Lawton and Ger Owens have a chance of an Olympic medal in the 470 sailing class. By Emma Browne

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The Carlow bypass is open and while it may bring relief to the beleaguered citizens of Carlow town who now can cross the road without having to apply for annual leave, it also has provided a wonderful feast for the eyes of the motorists who are in the act of  circumnavigating the town. Or at least the cutaway raised verges of the motorway are. Add a comment

Draighean
Prunus spinosa

People often confuse blackthorn and white thorn. Both are thorny and produce white flowers but there the similarity ends as they are two entirely separate species.   Country people know that an encounter with blackthorn is much more severe as it can inflict a septic splinter.

 

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Tallaght Garda station is so overcrowded that prisoners on long-term detention have to be taken to Clondalkin to shower and cells are being used for storage. 
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