The EU and You

Even after 50 years of European Union membership, polling data consistently suggests that Irish people overwhelmingly favour being a part of the EU.For the final episode of The Good Information Podcast, we examined what it means to Irish people - members of the public, policy-makers and MEPs themselves - to be a citizen of Europe. The Journal Reporter Lauren Boland joins host Susan Daly to discuss how our membership of the European Union shaping our climate policy, and what Russia's invasion of Ukraine means for the union's approach towards common defence. You can catch up with the rest of our reporting on the European Union here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-europe/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's healthcare system remains beset on all sides by issues such as years-long waiting lists, burnt out, underpaid staff, and exorbitant costs for massive projects such as the National Children's Hospital.Against that backdrop, it comes as a no surprise that our poll found that just shy of two-thirds of Irish voters believe that Ireland's healthcare system is getting worse.This episode of The Good Information Podcast looks at some of the ways Ireland can pull healthcare out of its tailspin, including by focusing more so on the suggestions of patients and patient advocates. You can catch up with all of our reporting on healthcare here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-healthcare/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, or any major election that has taken place in recent memory, misinformation has become a scourge at every turn.Our priority in shining a spotlight on misinformation was to uncover the tactics used by bad actors and understand best practices for how disinformation can be dispelled, and ultimately, stopped.This episode of The Good Information Project looks at strategies employed by the EU and independent fact-checkers, such as pre-bunking, aggressive social media legislation in the European Parliament, and building critical thinking skills at a society-wide level to aid in a fight against dishonest information.You can catch up with all of our reporting on misinformation here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-misinformation/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the home to many of the European headquarters for some of the biggest tech companies in the world, the fate of Ireland's economy is inextricably linked with that of big tech.However, with plans to build dozens more energy-draining data centres across the country, concerns over Ireland's relationship with the new digital age go well beyond the economy. Add to this the looming spectre of hard-to-regulate cryptocurrency markets and digital assets, the widespread use of facial recognition technology for the purposes of surveillance, and long-standing issues of privacy, the future of tech has the potential to become very messy. This episode of The Good Information Podcast looks at Ireland's digital strategy, and gauge how laws being passed at the European level could go some of the way to taking power out of the hands of global tech giants. To read all of our reporting on the new digital age, visit this link: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-new-digital-age/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the global context, Ireland is regarded as one of the most equal societies when it comes to gender. It is only when one scratches beneath the surface that the entrenched problems facing Ireland's women are truly revealed.In our reporting during this cycle, we looked at the obstacles facing women in Ireland across several arenas, including healthcare, academia, the digital space, personal finance and political representation. In this episode, The Journal senior reporter Michelle Hennessy discusses the attitudes that underpin inequality in Ireland, and Carl Kinsella looks at polling results that expose a deep division between the perceptions of men and women when it comes to inequality.To catch up with all of our reporting on gender equality in Ireland, click here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-gender-equality/news/?jrnl_lg=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Though there are very few Irish people who speak the Irish language daily, there is widespread enthusiasm for better integrating our native tongue into everyday life. From live events to independent polling to original reporting, The Good Information Project's coverage of the Irish language painted a very hopeful picture of what the future of An Ghaeilge could look like. However, getting the Irish language to thrive - rather than merely survive - is a challenge we must rise to meet. There is great demand for more outlets that would allow everybody to engage with the language at their own pace, and for more housing to be made available to reinvigorate Gaeltacht areas. In this episode of The Good Information Podcast, we reflect on the lessons learned from shining a spotlight on Gaeltacht issues and attitudes towards the Irish language, and look at what more can be done to help grow the language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the United Kingdom's political landscape endures scandal after scandal, Brexit continues to loom menacingly in the background. Already, the UK's decision to leave the EU has changed its relationship with Ireland, and put pressure on cross-border relations. Six years since the fateful referendum, what's currently happened with Brexit? How have the diplomatic relationships between Ireland and the United Kingdom changed. Is there any prospect of a return to normality, or are we stuck watching a game of political football, with landmark peace agreements like The Good Friday Agreement used as little more than bargaining chips?This episode of The Good Information Podcast looks at the effect Brexit has had and continues to have on the dynamic between Ireland, the EU and the UK, and what we can expect to happen next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the global fight against climate change, Ireland might see itself as just a minor player, but we have set out our ambitions: halve carbon emissions by 2030, and reach "net zero" by 2050.Are we on course to achieve those aims? Are those aims even ambitious enough? Episode 6 of The Good Information Podcast looks at whether Ireland is pulling enough of its weight when it comes to addressing the climate crisis.The Journal reporter Orla Dwyer was on the ground at COP26, and co-authors the monthly Temperature Check newsletter, keeping subscribers up to date on all the latest developments in Ireland's climate policy, and the outlook more globally. In this episode, Orla joins Susan to discuss whether any progress was made at last year's conference, why climate activists were disappointed with the outcome, and what it means for Ireland.To read all of The Good Information Project's reporting on the climate crisis, click here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-climate/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war in Ukraine has had a transformative impact on migration in Ireland and the European Union, the second wave of refugees in as many years following the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The EU's approach to migration is one of the most contentious issues facing its member states, with differing attitudes towards accepting refugees and asylum seekers a core cleavage between the different wings of the European Parliament.In this episode of The Good Information Project, host Susan Daly hears from Gráinne Ní Aodha on Ireland's role within the EU's approach towards taking in refugees, and whether the current policy "works for the EU, but not for migrants." We also look at the results of an Ireland Thinks poll to establish how the Irish public feels about the EU's approach to migration.To catch up on The Good Information Project's reporting on migration, click here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-migration/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might not think that Ireland is involved in the space race, but through our participation in the European Space Association, we have more skin in the game than you might think.Not only that, but many private companies and university research teams are involved in the broader efforts of space exploration. This episode of The Good Information Podcast looks at Ireland's unlikely involvement in the global space race, as well as the Irish public's hesitant attitude towards space travel.Climate change, new discoveries and billionaire space jaunts have reenergised talk of exploring the celestial frontiers, but where are Ireland and the EU in all of this? Host Susan Daly speaks to The Journal contributor CJ McKinney about the facts and figures underpinning Ireland's place in the galaxy at large.To catch up with all of The Good Information Project's coverage on space travel, click here: https://www.thejournal.ie/tgip-space/news/?jrnl_lg=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.