Dublin, like many other Western cities throughout Europe, is in the throes of a construction epidemic. The need to fulfil housing quotas, alongside the rich rewards from foreign investment, has led to a clear demand for high-rise towers in central …
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What Bank of Ireland’s English-only ATMs tells us about the Irish language
“Irish is dying, not because people can’t speak it, not because people don’t want it, but because it is easy to abuse”
Bank of Ireland’s removal of the Irish language option in new LATMs (lodgement ATMs) has been popularly condemned by the Irish public. Bank of Ireland (BOI) discontinued the service as less than 1% of people were choosing to conduct their …
It’s time to let societies into student politics
We could be entering a new era of student activism, but only if societies are allowed in.
So far, almost every angle of the Dublin University Gender Equality Society (DUGES) name-change debate has been explored. However, the events of recent months are simply threads in the knot of a greater issue: the involvement of student societies in …
Joint authority is the next step for Northern Ireland
Joint rule between Dublin and Westminster is the only way to break the current impasse
The Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney, recently caused a stir at Westminster. Coveney demanded a voice for the Irish government in the administration of Northern Ireland, remarking that “there can be no British-only direct rule” in the province.
The next …
What’s in a name?
Aine Palmer, former Chair of DUGES, reflects on the the society’s struggle to change their name to DU Feminist Society
This week, at the Central Societies Committee (CSC) Term General Meeting (TGM), some closure was reached when Dublin University Gender Equality Society (DUGES) were unable to change the society name to FemSoc. As previous chairperson of the society (and a …
The bloated egos of student politics
For many, student politics is nothing more than a parade of self-centredness
There are, as ever, many confusions to be found in student politics. The emerging confusion, however, is best embodied by the self-interested individual: the person who waves the flag for political virtue, but whose every action suggests that they are …
We need to be mature about commercialisation
The commercialisation of our universities has many facets, and we should not treat it as a unitary phenomenon
Recent years have seen growing concern over the “commercialisation” of universities. For many, the integrity of universities is threatened by a slavish devotion to corporate interests and a toxic logic of rationalisation which knows the price of everything and the …
Instead of a hard border, there should be a united Ireland
Brexit represents a historic crossroads for our island.
I sit in the harsh light of the television, watching the mounds of dried wooden pallets and defaced tricolours of the Twelfth on across my screen. It strikes me like a match against the hard edge of a matchbox: now, …
Pulling down posters won’t win the argument
The silencing of pro-lifers by Trinity PBP members will only weaken the pro-choice side.
Trinity PBP has overreached with their removal of pro-life posters around campus. While abortion is a sensitive issue, no side in the debate has a mandate to suppress an opposing viewpoint.
Any disrespect for democratic values only undermines the pro-choice …
Harvey and Irma are symptoms of our ever-worsening climate
Without action to prevent climate change, and preparation for the disasters that will occur, we can expect more disasters of the same scale as Harvey and Irma.
Hurricane Irma recently hit Florida, rewriting history books as the most powerful Atlantic hurricane on record, with winds reaching velocities as high as 298km/h. But with hurricanes, it isn’t only wind that we should be worrying about – it’s water.…