Fiona Lawless
@filawless.bsky.social
International Development| Policy Adviser| equity and equality| sustainability| avid bookworm| proud feminist| cheese enthusiast
Many thoughts, all my own
Tá Gaeilge agam
Many thoughts, all my own
Tá Gaeilge agam
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
I've been thinking about how Britain's legacy in Ireland is a civic tradition of state cruelty and Jim O'Callaghan is that tradition writ large. #speirgorm
Justice and Migration Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he's committed to ensuring Ireland is 'not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum'.
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
O'Callaghan 'committed' to ensuring Ireland not viewed 'more favourably' than the UK by asylum seekers
A new International Protection Bill to reform Ireland’s asylum system will be published later this year.
jrnl.ie
November 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I've been thinking about how Britain's legacy in Ireland is a civic tradition of state cruelty and Jim O'Callaghan is that tradition writ large. #speirgorm
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
How many inhumane anti-immigrant policies does it take to change a lightbulb?
Change? Change! Don’t be stupid, the idea is to keep people in the dark about the real causes of inequality and the housing crisis.
Change? Change! Don’t be stupid, the idea is to keep people in the dark about the real causes of inequality and the housing crisis.
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
How many inhumane anti-immigrant policies does it take to change a lightbulb?
Change? Change! Don’t be stupid, the idea is to keep people in the dark about the real causes of inequality and the housing crisis.
Change? Change! Don’t be stupid, the idea is to keep people in the dark about the real causes of inequality and the housing crisis.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Correct. So what is he waiting for? Could someone please remind this man that he is, in fact, the Minister?
November 17, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Correct. So what is he waiting for? Could someone please remind this man that he is, in fact, the Minister?
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
On Simon Harris and the immigration debate.
November 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
On Simon Harris and the immigration debate.
I dislike cold, grey weather but 15 degrees at 8am in November is worrying.
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I dislike cold, grey weather but 15 degrees at 8am in November is worrying.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Timmy Dooley is a landlord and has declared income from properties in Rathfarnham and Ringsend. The cheapest one bed listed in daft in these places is 1600 a month. He also owns land in Co. Clare.
www.thejournal.ie/who-are-land...
www.thejournal.ie/who-are-land...
Who are the 32 politicians in the Dáil who declared themselves as landlords last year?
The register of interest for the new Dáil was published this week.
www.thejournal.ie
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Timmy Dooley is a landlord and has declared income from properties in Rathfarnham and Ringsend. The cheapest one bed listed in daft in these places is 1600 a month. He also owns land in Co. Clare.
www.thejournal.ie/who-are-land...
www.thejournal.ie/who-are-land...
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Remember - if it's OK to call @paulmurphy.pbp.ie et al "far left" or "hard left" for saying that people deserve homes and basic services, then it's entirely OK for you to call politicians "far right" and "racist" when they try to blame a housing disaster they created on immigrants.
a man in a colorful sweater says " no more mister nice guy "
ALT: a man in a colorful sweater says " no more mister nice guy "
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Remember - if it's OK to call @paulmurphy.pbp.ie et al "far left" or "hard left" for saying that people deserve homes and basic services, then it's entirely OK for you to call politicians "far right" and "racist" when they try to blame a housing disaster they created on immigrants.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
79% of homes sold in Dublin this year were bought by landlords, 75% by large landlords. About 1 in 5 TDs are landlords.
This is disgusting dog whistling. The problem has never been people seeking asylum. The problem is people seeking to endlessly profit from folks just looking for a home.
This is disgusting dog whistling. The problem has never been people seeking asylum. The problem is people seeking to endlessly profit from folks just looking for a home.
🗣️ "The one thing that there is a problem with is housing right across the state, and the more that come to seek asylum, the more pressure it puts on that system.” - Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley
#TonightVMTV
#TonightVMTV
November 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
79% of homes sold in Dublin this year were bought by landlords, 75% by large landlords. About 1 in 5 TDs are landlords.
This is disgusting dog whistling. The problem has never been people seeking asylum. The problem is people seeking to endlessly profit from folks just looking for a home.
This is disgusting dog whistling. The problem has never been people seeking asylum. The problem is people seeking to endlessly profit from folks just looking for a home.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Every far-right riot and protest that was tolerated, every racist dog whistle from public reps, every bit of hate and misinformation allowed to spread by social media companies, all led to this moment in Drogheda last night where someone felt emboldened enough to try to burn children alive.
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Every far-right riot and protest that was tolerated, every racist dog whistle from public reps, every bit of hate and misinformation allowed to spread by social media companies, all led to this moment in Drogheda last night where someone felt emboldened enough to try to burn children alive.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
I have already ended up in a argument today with someone saying I shouldn't assume it was a far-right fire attack on an IPAS centre (following a number of far-right fire attacks on IPAS centres) because it was probably "kids messing with fireworks" so this is worth hammering home I think
So it wasn't fireworks. It was a calculated and deliberate attempt at the mass murder of men, women and children.
www.thetimes.com/article/0887...
www.thetimes.com/article/0887...
CCTV catches moment intruder torched asylum centre housing children
Gardai have rebranded attack in Drogheda as a potential attempted murder after camera footage was released
www.thetimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I have already ended up in a argument today with someone saying I shouldn't assume it was a far-right fire attack on an IPAS centre (following a number of far-right fire attacks on IPAS centres) because it was probably "kids messing with fireworks" so this is worth hammering home I think
My first thought when I saw the horrific news from Louth is that our Tánaiste and Taoiseach are directly responsible for inciting this hatred and legitimising hate
Wed: “Our migration numbers are too high”-Simon Harris
Thurs: “Taoiseach and Donohoe back Tánaiste’s remarks that numbers migrating to Ireland are ‘too high’”
Fri: ”migration numbers too high outside of international protection…as well”-Simon Harris
*Arson attack on infants in IPAS centre.*
Thurs: “Taoiseach and Donohoe back Tánaiste’s remarks that numbers migrating to Ireland are ‘too high’”
Fri: ”migration numbers too high outside of international protection…as well”-Simon Harris
*Arson attack on infants in IPAS centre.*
November 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My first thought when I saw the horrific news from Louth is that our Tánaiste and Taoiseach are directly responsible for inciting this hatred and legitimising hate
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
I am going to lose my fucking mind!
One more time:
THE REASON THERE WERE A LOT OF SPOILED VOTES IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONCERTED ORGANISED CAMPAIGN BY BAD ACTORS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO…
(YOU GUESSED IT!)
SPOIL THEIR FUCKING VOTES
It wasn’t organic! Now shut up and stop being enragingly thick
One more time:
THE REASON THERE WERE A LOT OF SPOILED VOTES IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONCERTED ORGANISED CAMPAIGN BY BAD ACTORS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO…
(YOU GUESSED IT!)
SPOIL THEIR FUCKING VOTES
It wasn’t organic! Now shut up and stop being enragingly thick
A total of 213,738 people spoiled their vote in the recent Presidential Election, and questions remain as to why so many people chose to do so, writes Juliette Gash.
Size of spoiled vote the elephant in the room of election
A total of 213,738 people spoiled their vote in the recent Presidential Election, and questions remain as to why so many people chose to do so.
www.rte.ie
November 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I am going to lose my fucking mind!
One more time:
THE REASON THERE WERE A LOT OF SPOILED VOTES IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONCERTED ORGANISED CAMPAIGN BY BAD ACTORS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO…
(YOU GUESSED IT!)
SPOIL THEIR FUCKING VOTES
It wasn’t organic! Now shut up and stop being enragingly thick
One more time:
THE REASON THERE WERE A LOT OF SPOILED VOTES IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CONCERTED ORGANISED CAMPAIGN BY BAD ACTORS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO…
(YOU GUESSED IT!)
SPOIL THEIR FUCKING VOTES
It wasn’t organic! Now shut up and stop being enragingly thick
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Probably not great for FF/FG to project the impression that they’ll give up on the ol’ norms once they stop working in their favour.
The Taoiseach is not coming to Dublin Castle for the official declaration of Catherine Connolly's victory in the presidential election.
Whether intended or not, it's going to look very confrontational for the head of government NOT to be there to congratulate the new head of state
Whether intended or not, it's going to look very confrontational for the head of government NOT to be there to congratulate the new head of state
October 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Probably not great for FF/FG to project the impression that they’ll give up on the ol’ norms once they stop working in their favour.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Catherine Connolly: the outspoken leftwinger set to be Ireland’s next president
Catherine Connolly: the outspoken leftwinger set to be Ireland’s next president
Independent candidate’s smooth campaign has enthused younger voters but views on Nato and Hamas may concern European allies
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Catherine Connolly: the outspoken leftwinger set to be Ireland’s next president
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
"I won't insult our allies like the EU/UK/US... Connolly will damage our relations with them" line that FG and FF have used in the campaign would carry more weight if we didn't have Michael D Higgins making similar critiques as the President for the last 14 years.
#Aras25
#Aras25
October 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
"I won't insult our allies like the EU/UK/US... Connolly will damage our relations with them" line that FG and FF have used in the campaign would carry more weight if we didn't have Michael D Higgins making similar critiques as the President for the last 14 years.
#Aras25
#Aras25
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Noticing lots of people saying that they don't agree with Catherine Connolly on everything.
Neither do I.
I've yet to find a politician that I fully agree with. I've never found ANYONE I fully agree with, or who fully agrees with me. Have you?
#SpeirGorm
#Áras25
Neither do I.
I've yet to find a politician that I fully agree with. I've never found ANYONE I fully agree with, or who fully agrees with me. Have you?
#SpeirGorm
#Áras25
October 21, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Noticing lots of people saying that they don't agree with Catherine Connolly on everything.
Neither do I.
I've yet to find a politician that I fully agree with. I've never found ANYONE I fully agree with, or who fully agrees with me. Have you?
#SpeirGorm
#Áras25
Neither do I.
I've yet to find a politician that I fully agree with. I've never found ANYONE I fully agree with, or who fully agrees with me. Have you?
#SpeirGorm
#Áras25
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
As a colleague noted, they have only been calling for civil unrest in response to one of these reports, the one reportedly involving an immigrant. 2/
October 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
As a colleague noted, they have only been calling for civil unrest in response to one of these reports, the one reportedly involving an immigrant. 2/
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has given a staunch defence of the cab-rank rule in the last few minutes, telling reporters it's an "obligation" and "absolutely essential".
"I don't think it's correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of others".
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
"I don't think it's correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of others".
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has given a staunch defence of the cab-rank rule in the last few minutes, telling reporters it's an "obligation" and "absolutely essential".
"I don't think it's correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of others".
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
"I don't think it's correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions of others".
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
RTE finally had a barrister on this morning who confirmed that barristers are 1) required to take clients in their area of expertise and 2) have a duty of confidentiality and shouldn't talk about their own cases.
FG is undermining the rule of law with their attacks.
#Aras25 #SpeirGorm
FG is undermining the rule of law with their attacks.
#Aras25 #SpeirGorm
www.lawlibrary.ie/statement-fr...
barristers should not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes or suffer adverse consequences as a result of being so identified.
Cc Fiacha Gall
barristers should not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes or suffer adverse consequences as a result of being so identified.
Cc Fiacha Gall
Statement from the Council of The Bar of Ireland: The fundamental importance of an independent referral Bar - Law Library
It is the duty of barristers to be independent and free from any influence, especially such as may arise from their personal interests or external pressure, in the discharge of their professional duti...
www.lawlibrary.ie
October 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
RTE finally had a barrister on this morning who confirmed that barristers are 1) required to take clients in their area of expertise and 2) have a duty of confidentiality and shouldn't talk about their own cases.
FG is undermining the rule of law with their attacks.
#Aras25 #SpeirGorm
FG is undermining the rule of law with their attacks.
#Aras25 #SpeirGorm
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
No matter who you’re voting for in #Aras25, sensationalised attack ads are just grim, especially at a time when politicians repeatedly (and rightly) call for reducing toxicity in discourse and an end to personalised attacks.
Nobody wants this stuff. It sours an electorate that desires civility.
Nobody wants this stuff. It sours an electorate that desires civility.
October 20, 2025 at 7:38 AM
No matter who you’re voting for in #Aras25, sensationalised attack ads are just grim, especially at a time when politicians repeatedly (and rightly) call for reducing toxicity in discourse and an end to personalised attacks.
Nobody wants this stuff. It sours an electorate that desires civility.
Nobody wants this stuff. It sours an electorate that desires civility.
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Catherine Connolly can criticise the EU & still become president - nuanced take by Justine McCarthy. We already have a very popular President who keeps his ‘beady eye’ on the EU and has been unafraid to critique it-having another is no change in this case #aras25
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Justine McCarthy: Catherine Connolly can criticise the EU and still become president
With a new generation of voters coming of age, neutrality could be a decisive factor
www.irishtimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Catherine Connolly can criticise the EU & still become president - nuanced take by Justine McCarthy. We already have a very popular President who keeps his ‘beady eye’ on the EU and has been unafraid to critique it-having another is no change in this case #aras25
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
📢 ICYMI: Most eye conditions are NCDs — but eye care is still missing from the global health agenda.
@filawless.bsky.social of Sightsavers makes the case for integrating eye health into #UHC and #NCD action. 👁️
🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/mu9p5j3n
@filawless.bsky.social of Sightsavers makes the case for integrating eye health into #UHC and #NCD action. 👁️
🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/mu9p5j3n
Eye Health, the forgotten NCD? | Action for Global Health
Vision loss affects 1.1 billion people—yet eye care is missing from global NCD plans. It’s time to act and prioritise eye health for all.
tinyurl.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:12 PM
📢 ICYMI: Most eye conditions are NCDs — but eye care is still missing from the global health agenda.
@filawless.bsky.social of Sightsavers makes the case for integrating eye health into #UHC and #NCD action. 👁️
🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/mu9p5j3n
@filawless.bsky.social of Sightsavers makes the case for integrating eye health into #UHC and #NCD action. 👁️
🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/mu9p5j3n
Reposted by Fiona Lawless
Brian Leddin seems to think it's impossible to fulfill the duties of a President while disagreeing with FF/FG, but Michael D has managed it just fine for the past 14 years.
October 14, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Brian Leddin seems to think it's impossible to fulfill the duties of a President while disagreeing with FF/FG, but Michael D has managed it just fine for the past 14 years.