Eurovision Blogging has a new home

April 7, 2010
By Stephen
Eurovision Blogging has a new home

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Some people have noticed a lack of blogging about Eurovision lately, and there are many reasons for that, college, work, etc. Well never fear, as I am back on the Eurovision blogging trail. I have joined ESCIreland.com as a blogger and I will be doing the majority of...
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A conferring levy?

April 1, 2010
By Stephen
A conferring levy?

Image via Wikipedia Received this via email this morning: Student Outrage as UCC Impose Conferring Levy on Students- YFG UCC students were left wondering if they were being hit by a bad April fool’s joke from college authorities last night following an email sent to all students informing them of a new €65 conferring...
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Head Shops – Should they be banned?

March 31, 2010
By Stephen
Head Shops – Should they be banned?

Image by infomatique via Flickr I recently got a mailshot from the local Sinn Fein Councillor, Fiona Kerins, and as part of it, it should her and her comrades picketing outside a shop as it carried out its LEGAL trade. Some people may not like head shops, what they stand for, or what they...
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Hunting

March 31, 2010
By Stephen
Hunting

Image via Wikipedia Firstly I apologise for the lack of posting recently, I have been under pressure with College and work and other commitments. Anyway, today I was asked in an email about my stance on the attempt by Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment  to ban hunting in Ireland. Specifically the...
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The Pope’s Letter to Irish Catholics

March 20, 2010
By Stephen
The Pope’s Letter to Irish Catholics

Image via Wikipedia Having read Pope Benedict’s XVI pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, I can say I my respect for him and the Vatican has increased. He has apologised on behalf of the church and is sending an Apostolic Visitation for certain Diocese. It will be interesting to see which ones. I have reproduced...
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Electoral Reform and the List System

March 19, 2010
By Stephen

There seems to be a bit of talk about Electoral Reform lately going around and the possibility of it being in the new FG policy. As someone who would like to see the Seanad replaced with an elected body, by a PR List, possibly national or regional, Jason O’Mahony, who I normally agree with,...
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Cardinal Brady and the Pope

March 16, 2010
By Stephen
Cardinal Brady and the Pope

Image by Getty Images via Daylife From the Archdiocese of Dublin, the Primate of Ireland and now the Supreme Pontiff, allegations of involvement in the cover up of child abuse have been directed at them all. When reading the stories regarding the role played by Cardinal Brady in the Father Smyth case and the...
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Anna Lindh Forum: What I made of it

March 16, 2010
By Stephen
Anna Lindh Forum: What I made of it

Image by Presidency Maldives via Flickr So its been over a week since I arrived home from the Anna Lindh Forum and I have spent most of the time since I came home cathcing up with college and work. It dose not feel like I got home over a week ago! I really enjoyed the...
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Its All Gone Quiet….

March 5, 2010
By Stephen
Its All Gone Quiet….

Image by Martha★ via Flickr So I arrive in Barcelona and the blogging goes quiet…. Whats the deal you ask? Well Anna Lindh Foundation have set up a group blog where a bunch of us are blogging our experiences at the Forum. There are some cracking blog posts over there so do check it...
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ALF Forum Opening Session Liveblog

March 4, 2010
By Stephen
ALF Forum Opening Session Liveblog

Liveblog here Transcript below 11:41 AM: Stephen Spillane good evening from the plenary hall in the CCIB in Barcelona at #forum2010 11:41 AM: alvaromillan Ya en el Forum, todo listo para empezar el #forum2010 de la Fundación Anna Lindh aquí en Barcelona http://twitpic.com/16kbrh 11:41 AM: adshill RT @annalindh: If you are at ALF Forum...
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Hello from Barcelona!!!

March 4, 2010
By Stephen
Hello from Barcelona!!!

Image via Wikipedia Good afternoon from a warm Barcelona. I have reached my destination (unlike my luggage) and I am ensconced in my hotel room waiting for things to start across the road at the CCIB. I may have neglected to inform you why I’m actually here. Well apart from blogging over on Conference...
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Join the Debate in Barcelona

March 3, 2010
By Stephen
Join the Debate in Barcelona

Well tomorrow I am off to Barcelona for the Anna Lindh Foundation Forum 2010. I will be live-blogging and tweeting about the forum, with the help of a few others. I know I am not a big user of twitter at the moment, but college is taking up a lot of the time I...
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Public Meeting on FairCare

March 2, 2010
By Stephen
Public Meeting on FairCare

Image via Wikipedia A public meeting will be held on Monday 8th of March at 8:00pm in Silversprings Morans Hotel Cork on the the new Fine Gael Health Policy “FairCare”. Speakers on the night will include Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD, Fine Gael Health Spokesperson Dr. James O’Reilly TD and Fine Gael Seanad...
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