REVIEW OF THE YEAR: NOVEMBER 2023

Minister for Education Norma Foley

Foley proposes ban on smartphones in primary schools

Minister for Education Norma Foley introduced plans that will encourage parents to avoid buying smartphones for children in primary schools.
Minister Foley said she wanted to support more parents and schools in taking this step to take collective action around smartphones in their community.
While acknowledging there were “clear benefits” to owning a smartphone, she said the “risks they posed to children had to be managed.”
“Principals tell me that online bullying using smartphones happens outside school hours. They can’t control it. It happens outside of school. Children can be exposed to violence and sexual content that no parent would want them to see via their smartphone.”
She said that excessive smartphone use can be “particularly damaging” for children if they were missing out on real life experiences with their family and their friends.

Mayor’s plan to make Dublin autism-friendly city 

Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste, in association with the AsIAm Autism-Friendly Communities Awards Programme, announced plans make to Dublin the first autism-friendly capital city in the world.
A steering group, comprising of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, elected officials, stakeholders, advocacy groups, those with lived experience, parents and academics was set up.
The group will carry out four public events between now and Christmas to discuss the formation of a plan, what should be included, what metrics should be set and how it will be managed.
“In a world where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated, Dublin’s vision is to become the world’s first capital city to be designated autism friendly,” said the Lord Mayor.
“In a vibrant and dynamic city known for its rich history and cultural heritage, we envision a Dublin that not only recognises, but actively nurtures the unique abilities and talents of its autistic residents and visitors.”

1000 new homes announced at former Player Wills site

A protracted legal dispute concerning the old Player Wills and Bailey Gibson factory site in Dublin 8 has come to an end, paving the way for over 1,000 new homes in the area.

An American-based real estate company, Hines, acquired ownership of the former Player Wills cigarette factory in 2018, but faced legal hurdles preventing the development of the sites on South Circular Road following objections from local residents.

Permission was finally granted in November by An Bord Pleanála.

Calls for injection centres across Dublin after rise in overdoses

Calls for injection centres across Dublin after rise in overdoses
There were calls for the establishment of injection centres in Dublin after the HSE warned of a sharp rise in heroin overdoses across the city.
More than 50 overdoses were recorded across Dublin in one week in November alone.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that injection centres are a “proven way to reduce harm overdose deaths and improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs.”

“People are dying on our streets while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil pretend it’s not happening.”

“The most important thing is to get an injection centre up and running as quickly as possible. A mobile centre could work, but the requirement is immediate, we can’t afford to wait any longer,” he said at the time.

McAuliffe calls for reform of local government

Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe said he is in favour of Dublin having a directly-elected mayor – but only on the condition the mayor works in tandem with a local council that has significantly more powers than it does now.
In an interview piece, McAuliffe reflected on 10 years since the Local Government Act was passed which weakened local democracy across Ireland.
“I think it’s somewhat absurd that part-time councillors are expected to run cities,” and called for Dublin to have a directly-elected mayor in line with other major cities.
A report from the Council of Europe found that Ireland had the dubious distinction of having the 4th-weakest local government system in Europe, only above the likes of Russia, Hungary and Moldova, all nations categorised as “flawed democracies.”

Kenny bows out as Ireland manager

Stephen Kenny’s reign as Irish manager came to an end in November, after Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 2024.
The FAI made the decision to not renew Kenny’s contract, which was due to expire in late 2023, and contingent on Ireland’s qualification at Euro 2024. 
Ireland’s only two victories in the qualifiers came against Gibraltar, while defeats against Greece, The Netherlands and France proved that Ireland is quite a ways off from coming back to the big time in international football.
Kenny bowed out as manager following a draw with New Zealand at the Aviva.

All university graduates to be granted Seanad votes

Hundreds of thousands of more people could be able to vote in Seanad elections.

Minister Darragh O’Brien introduced plans to Cabinet that would extend voting rights to all graduates across Ireland.

At present, only those who have graduated from the National University of Ireland universities and Trinity College are eligible to vote in Seanad elections.

University of Limerick graduate Tomás Heneghan took a case to the High Court, who argued that restricting voting rights to graduates of specific universities was “unconstitutional.”

Reforms must be in place by the end of May 2025, meaning that graduates won’t get the chance to flaunt their votes until the following general election.

Riots condemned as “shameful” by Taoiseach

Riots tore through Dublin on the night of November 23rd following the stabbing of three children and their carer outside a creche on Parnell Square.
The riots, which caused millions in property damage, made international news, and were condemned by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as “shameful.”
A Luas tram and 4 Dublin Buses were destroyed in the riots, and 13 shops were looted or damaged during the riots. 
Misinformation on social media came under the spotlight in the wake of the riots, with the likes of Twitter and TikTok called into question for allowing misinformation to spread.
In the wake of the riots, Gardaí were granted additional powers such as facial recognition technology and water cannons and pepper spray were ordered for Garda units.

Shane MacGowan passes away

Legendary Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan passed away on November 30th. 
The singer passed away from complications with pneumonia at his home in Dublin.
The outpouring of grief saw the the likes of Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Michael D Higgins pay tribute to the late singer.
President Higgins said “the genius of Shane’s contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams—of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from.”
Paul Simon referred to MacGowan as “that kind of artist that needed to burn very brightly and intensely. Some artists are like that.
“They produce work that we treasure but they pay for it with their health – their bodily health and their mental health. That was Shane.”
MacGowan’s funeral procession passed through Dublin before his funeral mass in Nenagh, Tipperary where Nick Cave performed a stunning rendition of Rainy Night In Soho.