Rag week will not take place - A note from our sponsors #Galway

"I am very pleased that I have had many opportunities during the past year to attend student events and I congratulate you on the contributions you continue to make to developing a vibrant campus.  I encourage you all to avail of the many opportunities to enrich your student experience within your academic spheres and through clubs, societies and volunteering activities.  I am pleased by the consideration shown by the majority of students to their neighbours in the communities where they live and regret that we are still dealing with a small number of instances of anti-social behaviour. 

I would like to remind students that the student leadership and University authorities have agreed that rag week will not take place and that any use of social media to organise, support or contribute to social events associated with the concept of college week/Rag Week as well as behaviour that would bring the University name into disrepute are examples of breaches of the code. 

Regrettably, in 2013 several students were disciplined for breaches of the Code of Conduct during the month of February. 

Is a nurse worth €6.49?

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI), student representatives and student nurses will be gathering outside Dáil Éireann today at 11.30 am to launch the ‘Everyone Loves Nurses’ campaign. 

The launch is taking place ahead of a larger demonstration that will take place in a fortnight at the HSE.

Due to a drop ins starting salaries, nurses are beginning on €6.49 per hour. This is less than the current minimum wage of €8.65. The same graduate nurses can earn far more abroad, up to €43,614 in Canada.  

USI President Joe O’Connor said:  “The message to Minister Reilly today is loud and clear; change the starting salary level back to €26,000 for newly graduated nurses." 

This drop in starting salary is actively encouraging young graduate nurses to emigrate.

EU resolves to draw up a roadmap for LGBT rights

A resolution adopted today resolved that the EU should draw up a roadmap to protect the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people

In a 2013 EU LGBT survey, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency found that 47% of LGBT people felt discriminated against or harassed and 26% were physically attacked or threatened with violence in the previous five years.

"Homophobia must not be tolerated in Europe any more. So many of us lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people have lived our lives in fear for too long. Fear of holding hands on the street, fear of being called names, fear of being thrown out of our houses, schools or jobs. My report says the EU must act on this, so that we, too, may enjoy the rights guaranteed to all in the EU", said Ulrike Lunacek.

The parliament’s resolution, passed by 394 votes to 176, with 72 abstention.

Hate crime

The current EU framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law should be revised to include bias crime and incitement to hatred on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Transgender persons

MEPs say that member states should "introduce or review legal gender recognition procedures so they fully respect transgender people's right to dignity and bodily integrity", e.g. to preclude any requirement for them to undergo sterilization. They add that the Commission should continue to work with the World Health Organization to stop considering transgender individuals mentally ill.

Remembering Ann Lovett

30 years ago, 15 year old Ann Lovett died tragically after giving birth in a grotto, her death opened up a discussion that would change Ireland forever.

Mary McGill, editor and co-founder of Irish women’s website Fanny.ie and currently doing a masters in gender globalisation and human rights at NUI Galway, joined us in studio to discuss the significance of Ann Lovett 30 years later.

Mary McGill joins us to talk about the significance of Ann Lovett's tragic death 30 years later by Flirtnewsfeed on Mixcloud

Rabble Magazine

Rabble Interview by Flirtnewsfeed on Mixcloud