Paul Hopkins

The Fact OfThe Matter

PAUL HOPKINS PAUL HOPKINS Move on Roe v Wade will see a dystopian society

When news of the US Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade was leaked, millions of Americans were caught o -guard, despite six of the court’s nine judges considered conservative.

Up to 69% of Americans are against overturning the legislation, which next year will be 50 years in existence. Republicans have been working towards this decision for decades.

I did see this coming. From back when the Republican Party refused to let Barack Obama appoint a Supreme Court judge, then convinced the conservative Anthony Kennedy to retire early, changed the rules and allowed Donald Trump to appoint the ultra-conservative Amy Coney Barrett in the last weeks of his tenure ,it was a given that a judgment striking down Roe v Wade was inevitable. e leak of the decision shows how entrenched the anti-abortion wing of the court is.

Two days after the leak, the Senate again failed to advance abortion rights legislation, in a symbolic e ort that Democrats had mounted in response to the Supreme Court’s draft. In a 51-49 vote, the Senate rejected the legislation, with Democrat Joe Manchin, and all Republicans, voting no.

You don’t need me to tell you the obvious — that, 50 years on from Roe v Wade, pr0-choice is still a massively divisive issue, with the court’s draft opinion now upping the stakes.

Former Attorney General Eric Holder says the decision will have a “seismic e ect” on America. No two of the 50 US states have similar laws on abortion; some allow termination up to only six weeks, others 15 weeks, while some allow only in cases of proven rape and incest. Texas mooted the other day that to assist someone to cross the state line to avail of a more ‘lenient’ abortion law could become a capital o ence. An overturn of Roe v Wade would immediately ban abortion in 26 states. e Supreme Court’s impending action sets back women’s rights, their rights over their own bodies, by that 50 years since Roe v Wade and will see a growing somewhat dystopian society, mirroring Margaret Atwood’s e Handmaid’s Tale. Canadian Atwood (83) has often wondered if her novel, of a ctional theocracy in which enslaved women are forced to bear children, was too far-fetched. Last week, she said: “ eocratic dictatorships do not lie only in the past. What is to prevent the US from becoming one?” It makes our squabble here over the proposed National Maternity Hospital and a few words in a draft proposal just that — a squabble. e forthcoming US ruling has implications not just for a woman’s right to choose — nor, indeed, that it potentially places women’s health in danger — but has equally frightening implications for many pieces of current US legislation. Laws on family planning, on sexual consent, on same-sex marriage and the ongoing agenda of the LBGT movement and the issues of transgender.

Any proposals for the Supreme Court to overturn these laws, to look at overturning, say, same-sex marriage — and it’s a very tangible likelihood — will become more draconian as one goes deeper into the Red, the Republican, states. e pitched battles witnessed down the decades since Roe v Wade — 11 pro-choice people murdered in the last 20-plus years, the burning down of clinics, the horrible depiction of ‘murdered foetuses’ — are set to reach that “seismic e ect” that former AG Eric Holder speaks of. And see an America more divided than at any other time in my lifetime. Family member pitted against family member.

Of course it is all part of a bigger picture — the growth of the ultra-Right the last number of decades.

Book banning has reached “unprecedented heights” in America, most notable in the states of Pennsylvania and Florida in recent days. Books on all manner of subjects — not least the issues of transgender, racism and Woke — removed from schools and libraries. Cue, Ireland decades ago. And, with two granddaughters in America, this concerns me greatly.

Such measures are all part of the Make American Great Again (MAGA) movement’s growing commitment to the political Right. at said, political activism is important because it suggests commitment to political engagement.

And such engagement is always a good thing, whatever side of the fence you reside.

Meanwhile, multi mass shootings across four states in just days with at least 17 dead and many critically injured. Last year 703 died from such in the US, with 2,842 injured and traumatised. Facilitated by lax gun laws, largely supported by the Right.

‘Of course, it’s all part of a bigger picture...

Poulacapple cited as Creative Schools deadline looms

The Arts Council have flagged that schools have just two weeks left to submit their application for the Creative Schools 2022/ 2023 Programme.

Designed to provide opportunities for children and young people to build their artistic and creative skills, the Creative Schools Programme supports Primary and Post-Primary schools and Youthreach centres across Ireland to put arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives.

Key supports offered by the programme include specialist support and advice from an assigned Creative Associate, training and networking, and funding to implement Creative Schools Plans.

A number of schools in Kilkenny have already been part of the Creative Schools programme. One of these is Poulacapple National School which has been working on the creation of sensory outdoor space for their school. They have worked on a 'Comic Book' project with Sarah Bowie author, illustrator, comic book artist as well as an animation project with Mike Byrne. Making the most of both indoors and outdoor, they are focusing on environmental art and printmaking with artists Tunde Toth and Rachel Burke.

The Creative Schools initiative has been very well received since its inception in 2018, with more than 90% of participating schools recommending the programme.

Each school taking part receives a grant and works with a Creative Associate who use their practical experience in supporting them to develop and implement their own unique Creative School Plan.

This is a two-year guided journey in which children and young people’s involvement in planning, decisionmaking and reflection is central. The programme offers a real opportunity for school communities to explore what creativity means to them, and how participation in the arts can support their schools’ learning and development priorities.

All Department of Education-recognised schools and Youthreach centres interested in joining the programme in September 2022 are invited to apply to the Arts Council. The final deadline for receipt of applications is 17.30pm on Thursday, June 2

Farmers 'need to prepare' for new statutory sick pay law

New legislation giving employees a statutory entitlement to sick pay is currently making its way through the Oireachtas. When enacted, the Sick Pay Bill will provide a level of sick pay coverage for employees who currently do not receive sick pay/ or are not entitled to illness benefit.

Consequently, ifac, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional services firm, is advising Kilkenny farmers to prepare for statutory sick pay for their employees.

Mary McDonagh, Head of HR & Payroll Services at ifac, said: “At a time when input costs for everything from feed and fertiliser to energy, transport and labour are rising, it is particularly important that farmers with employees do not overlook making provision for statutory sick pay in their budgets for next year. This year’s introduction of statutory sick pay is an additional cost that farmers with employees need to include in their budget.

“Now is also the time to address situations where an existing employee’s wages are based on ‘take home’ rather than ‘gross’ pay. This is important because ‘net’ or ‘take home’ pay arrangements are difficult to budget and expose employers to potential additional costs if income tax rates rise or an employee’s tax credits change. Wages should always be agreed on a gross pay basis,” she said.

Under the legislation, employers will be required to pay sick pay at a rate of 70% of an employee’s wage, subject to a daily maximum threshold of €110. The scheme will be phased in over four years, allowing employers to plan for the additional costs they will incur. Initially, employees will be entitled to three days of statutory sick pay a year, rising to five days in 2024, seven days in 2025, and ten days in 2026. These sick days do not have to be consecutive.

Employees will need to obtain a medical certificate to avail of statutory sick pay. To be eligible, they will also need to have worked for their employer for a minimum of 13 weeks. If they need additional time off work once the entitlement to sick pay from their employer ends, they may qualify for illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection provided they have sufficient PRSI contributions.

Accurate record-keeping is essential when managing employees. In respect of statutory sick pay, the details to record include the employee’s service history, statutory sick leave dates and the payment made. These records may be needed in the event of a Workplace Relations Commission inspection or investigation. Note that statutory sick leave should not be included as part of annual or any other leave.

Ms McDonagh said: “Farms which already provide paid sick leave for their employees need to check how the new legislation will impact those contracts. The legislation states that employers are not prevented from offering better terms to their employees.”

If you are concerned about the impact of statutory sick pay on your farm business or have questions about how to budget for the new scheme, further information is available from your local ifac office.

Well weaved: Lisa Morris, Manager, Amber Women’s Refuge Kilkenny with Michael Noon TD

TD Michael weaves stars to support victims of violence

Kilkenny's Amber Women’s Refuge and its One Million Stars project hosted a star weaving ‘jam’ for members of the Oireachtas at Leinster House recently. e ‘jam’ was attended by TDs and senators from across the country who, assisted by Kilkenny’s star weaving volunteers, wove stars to show their support for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV) in Ireland. Amber’s One Million Stars is an inclusive community arts project connecting communities across Ireland in solidarity against domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Each eight-point star represents light, hope and solidarity against DSGBV, while promoting the national project’s eight points of healthy love within relationships. e project was brought to Ireland in 2019 and is being co-ordinated nationally by art therapist Siobhan McQuillan, working with Amber Women’s Refuge. It is part of the global One Billion Stars project, founded in Australia in 2012 by artist Maryann Talia Pau after the rape and murder of Irish woman, Jill Meagher, who was living in Melbourne.

Individual star weavers and weaving groups from Kilkenny and 19 other counties have already woven over 150,000 stars since the project launched in Ireland. e youngest star weaver is ve years of age, the eldest is 89. Stars have been curated into exhibitions around the country designed to spread love and hope for a future free from violence and abuse for all in Ireland.

One in four Irish women and one in seven men will experience abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in two women murdered are killed by an intimate partner.

*To register as an individual star weaver or star weaving group visit www.onemillionstarsireland.ie.

Five month sentence for assault on manager

A ve-month prison sentence has been handed down to a defendant who admitted assaulting a manager of a homeless charity in Kilkenny City. William Fitzgerald, 3 Ash eld House, Milllenium Court, Hebron Road pleaded guilty to assault at e Good Shepherd Centre on November 1, 2021, to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Irishtown, Kilkenny on October 15, 2021 and to being intoxicated in a public place at the Accident and Emergency Department at St Luke’s Hospital on November 16, 2021. e defendant, with an address at 38 Hebron Park also pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Hebron Road on December 16, 2021. Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that the assault at the Good Shepherd Centre took place where the defendant pushed past the manager, striking her on her left arm. e manager was not physically injured and did not receive any medical treatment. In relation to the public order charge at St Luke’s Hospital on November 16, 2021 the court heard that on the date in question the defendant was ‘extremely intoxicated’. Sgt O’Connor also outlined to the court the details of an incident on October 15, 2021 when Gardaí observed the defendant ‘roaring and shouting outside a fast food restaurant’. Facts were also given in relation to an act of criminal damaged to a premises on the Hebron Road on December 16, 2021 where damage of €750 was caused to a window. e defendant has 123 previous convictions and is currently serving a custodial sentence and is due for release in December. Solicitor Chris Hogan said that his client wished to apologise to the manager of the Good Shepherd Centre for his actions adding that the date in question the defendant ‘acted out’ and the injured party intervened. “ ere was no intention, it happened through recklessness,” he said.