We are joined in The Tortoise Shack by Communications Officer with Mandate Trade Union, Mr. David Gibney. We discuss the origins of organised labour, the deportation of trade union activists and how the exiles built the trade union movement in Australia.

We also discuss the legacy of the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness and the decline of union membership which reflects almost exactly the decline in middle class wealth. There is much to digest in this pod, not least of which is the average 30% pay gap between unionised and un-unionised workers.

Disturbing the Peace host, Rachel O’Neill is standing in for the ever absent Tony Groves.

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EchoChamber David Gibney (Ep 180)

When Dr Donal de Buitléir was asked which parts of the Independent Review Group’s plan (Slaintecare and the need to remove Private practice from Public Hospitals) did he think would be implemented he replied “You’re talking to a pathological optimist… but I’m also a pathological realist.”
Our guest in the tortoise shack is GP and Lecturer in General Practice, RCSI, Dr Mark Murphy and he is also an optimist. Mark talks us through the plan, its recommendations, Slaintecare and the need for us all to not miss this opportunity to deliver better healthcare for everyone.
This is a terrific conversation with a dedicated Healthcare professional.

Ep 179

EchoChamber Dr Mark Murphy (Ep 179)

Depending on who you listen to, Boris Johnson’s proroguing of the UK Parliament is either a brilliant tactical move or an anti-democratic coup. So I was delighted to be joined in the #tortoiseshack, via Skype, by writer, broadcaster and friend of the pod, Dawn Foster, to discuss what I describe a “Clown Car Sh1t-Show, wrapped inside a bad Carry On film.”
Dawn, as you will hear, gives a much more intelligent insight and even makes a pretty bold prediction on the outcome. Brexit, Bloody Hell.

Ep 181

Echo Chamber Dawn Foster (Ep 181)

We talk a lot on the pods about harm reduction, and sex work is no different. Our guest in the tortoise shack, social media manager with the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland, graphic designer, activist and campaigner, Linda Kavanagh, tells us why, for once, Ireland should not be trying to emulate a ‘Nordic model.’
We discuss her experiences in the Abortion Rights Campaign, Together4Yes and how the work for bodily autonomy in the Repeal campaign progressed naturally to her role with SWAI.
And just to be clear, the tweets are funny!

Echo Chamber Podcast

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