Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack n this Reboot Republic, Rory alongside Adam Boyle, Solicitor with the Mercy Law Centre, factcheck Taoiseach Simon Harris' claims that "homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are seeing many people seek protection in our country, seek asylum in our country". We highlight how asylum seekers are not included in the homeless numbers the Taoiseach references, how the majority of people presenting as homeless are doing so due to evictions from the private rental sector or household breakdown (which is often hidden homelessness). We also discuss the policy origins of homelessness -from the shift from direct social housing building to HAP, discrimination in the private rental sector, and failure of Government to provide renter protections. We also discuss the problems with current definitions of homelessness, the way in which presentations to homelessness are not capturing the true figures, and the danger of narratives blaming asylum seekers and immigration. See mercylaw.ie for more Rory's Dublin Marathon for Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this podcast Rory discusess the issues of rising deprivation and homelessness amongst Ireland's children, with Tanya Ward, Director of the Children's Rights Alliance. The number in children experiencing enforced deprivation has increased from 200,000 to 257000 between 2021 and 2023, while the number of children homeless with their families has increased by 87% since 2021, yet we have billions in Budget Surplus. We discuss how the lifting of the eviction ban resulted in an increase in children and families in homelessness and the on-going cost of living crisis for families, the failure of government to implement targeted measures, and the public support for new initiatives from free school books to school meals. We highlight the need to continue to hold the ambition and hope to end child poverty and child and family homelessness. Support Rory and Dignity for Palestine:https://www.patreon.com/posts/111983961

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this podcast Rory talks to Dr Tom McDonnell, Director of the Nevin Economics Research Institute, about the state of the Irish economy, and the upcoming Budget, why it is wrong to frame it as a 'give-away' budget, how we have record economic growth and yet deprivation has increased to 17%, why the Budget should invest in a wellbeing economy - in housing, a public construction company, public childcare, universal healthcare and climate transition. We also discuss how Ireland's economy is a neoliberal one, where the market dominates, and how we could become more like the Nordic wellbeing economies. The US Politics Pod is out here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/111858654

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with Louise Bayliss, Advocacy and Campaigns Coordinator with Focus Ireland. The latest homelessness figures show that we have the highest recorded homeless in Ireland, with the number of children homeless with their families at 4,401 children, an 87% increase since the Governments plan Housing For All in 2021. We discuss the traumatic impact of homelessness on children and families, and what are the solutions: including a re-instating of the ban on no fault evictions and allocating priority to families homeless in social housing. Homelessness is not evitable, and we must end it. A Home of Your Own Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/111406218 Gazza Appeal:https://www.patreon.com/posts/108592125

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory talks with Anne Marie Quilligan, a qualified social worker and Traveller activist  about her experiences growing up in Limerick, community, discrimination, Traveller homelessness and the Carrickmines tragedy, the parallels between anti-asylum seeker and anti-Traveller racism, and what a trauma informed approach to exclusion and solidarity means, we discuss the need to build cross society connections to challenge the rise in the far right. The Ditch Podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/47414904 Gaza Appeal:https://www.patreon.com/posts/109090405

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory chats with Tony about the latest data that rips up the long running “landlords are fleeing the market” narrative and shows how the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban is having such a devastating impact in terms of homelessness. They also discuss Rory’s decision to try and retain the Soc Dem seat currently held by the soon-to-retire Roisin Shortall. Tickets for our Live Show:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-tortoise-shack-tells-an-echo-chamber-exclusive-tickets-1002392050607?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*1f8z42w*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjYyMzc5OTcyLjE3MjQ4MjU4NjI.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTcyNDgyNTg2Mi4xLjAuMTcyNDgyNTg2Mi4wLjAuMA..

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic podcast, Rory speaks with a brilliant panel of Ber Grogan of Mental Health Reform, Charles O’Mahony NUIG lecturer and Mental health, human rights & disability law & policy researcher and Ciara Glynn, mental health peer, activist and of the wonderful team at Solace Cafe, to discuss the issues facing people in need of mental health services and those who are struggling to deliver in this unequal and unfair financially driven society. The Latest from the SpyCops inquiry is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-110376652 The Gaza appeal is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/water-for-gaza-108592125

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory chats with Professors Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, authors of several ground breaking and massively influential research on inequality including the Spirit Level (2009), the Inner Level (2015), and Act Now ( 2024, multi-author). We discuss how and why more unequal societies do worse in terms of trust, health, wellbeing, and environment, and what can be done to achieve more equal societies. A must-listen for anyone interested in inequality. Gaza Appeal:https://www.patreon.com/posts/look-what-you-us-109090405

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic episode Rory talks tackling Ireland's blight of dereliction and solutions, with Jude Sherry and Frank O Connor of Anois. Four years on from Jude and Frank's first Derelict Ireland tweets, we look back and see the cultural change in attitudes, as the public has demanded action on Ireland's scandal of huge numbers of derelict buildings while a generation are locked out of a home. This is a podcast of hope and solutions. The Gaza Appeal:https://www.patreon.com/posts/look-what-you-us-109090405

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack In this Reboot Republic, Rory is joined by Tony Groves to discuss the big issues of recent weeks including , the anti-immigrant protests, Sinn Fein's statement, rising inequality and the Government, and a history of NAMA and how its land should be immediately transferred to a public home building agency. Derelict Ireland Podcast here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-108852398 Gaza Appeal here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/look-what-you-us-109090405