#2. ‘My Mam Thought I was Mad’ – Sadhbh Coffey Duff

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Podcast Rory and Tony talk with Sally Hayden, Irish journalist and award winning author of My Fourth Time, We Drowned, about the reality of the Israeli invasion and attacks on Lebanon. Sally has been living in Beirut since January and describes what she has seen and the experiences of people on the ground, as she has written about in her regular Irish Times articles. We talk about Israel's psychological war, the ill state of international human rights and the dehumanising of people that has accelerated over the last year.  The GE 2024 Candidate Interviews are here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/115336691 Subscribe to Sparks Will Fly:https://open.spotify.com/show/0glRkpPWzMGzwHvyjCEuR9?si=7v3cs_CZSrCIDzDuPRfUmg

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic we talk once more to award winning journalist and podcaster with the Guardian, John Harris about the tensions, achievements and neoliberal technocracy of the new Labour Government in the UK. We dig into the disconnect between the big parties and ordinary people. We also talk about autism, disability and the waste of energy that are the culture wars. Finally John tells us about his new book that'll be out early in 2025. The GE 2024 Candidate Pods are here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/114681387 Donate to Rory's marathon for Gaza:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Please join us at patreon.com/toroiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory discusses a new approach to addressing both climate and inequality - in changing the narrative and moving towards transformative changes, such as public investment in warmer green homes for everyone, with Dr Ciaran O'Caroll, Lecturer in TU Dublin and climate analyst. We also discuss the Budget, data centres, and a green social justice approach to the climate transition. The General Election Starting Gun podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/114250721 Donate to Rory's marathon for Gaza:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Please join us on patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory dissects Budget 2025 with Michael Taft, economist , and Susanne Rogers of Social Justice Ireland and they find more tokenism than transformation, We discuss how the Budget was actually regressive - those on higher incomes gained more - it failed to take transformative action on housing, health or child poverty. Michael points to a broad public retrofitting scheme as one measure that would have used the billions for transformation. Rory is also joined by Mike Allen of Focus Ireland who highlights how shockingly there was not one mention of homelessness in the Budget, and no increase in funding for preventing homelessness. We also discuss the socially divisive narrative spread by the Taoiseach and others that are trying to deflect attention away from Government policy failure and blame immigrants and others vulnerable for homelessness. We always enjoy your feedback, and please share the podcast around. Thank you for listening. (Editors note: Don’t miss Michael Taft singing) Rory's Dublin Marathon for Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast Rory discusses the crisis in childcare and how a public system of Early Childhood Education and Care would work, with Orla O Connor and Eilish Balfe of the National Women's Council of Ireland, and Lynette Monk, manager of a Community Childcare and Afterschool Service, who was also involved with SIPTU's Big Start Campaign. The childcare and early years education sector is in a crisis -from lack of places, unaffordable fees, under valuing and low pay of staff, there is a clear need for a new approach, a public model. Eilish, Orla and Lynette explain about the new Alliance for a Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care, #TogetherForPublic initiative and the ways we can build a more equitable, accessible, and high-quality early childhood education system for all children and families. Rory's Marathon:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735