Kilkenny and China build on future ties

Mayor David Fitzgerald recently warmly welcomed the visit of Irish Overseas Chinese Leader, the European-China Culture and Art Exchange Association, and Chinese and Foreign International Family Association President, the China International News Magazine Ireland branch President and Chief Reporter, the International Integrity and Brand Magazine Ireland Representative Chen Qiumei Annie MacCarthy, and Jimmy MacCarthy.

e meeting aimed to further strengthen cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation between Kilkenny and China. Both sides discussed plans and potential cultural exchange projects to promote Chinese and Irish cultural exchanges and cooperation, such as hosting various Chinese and foreign cultural and artistic activities in Kilkenny and collaborating on education projects.

ey also explored opportunities for cooperation in the tourism industry, hoping to make Kilkenny a gateway for Chinese tourists to explore the treasures of Ireland.

As Mayor Fitzgerald had participated in signing the agreement to establish sister city relationship between Kilkenny and Suzhou, China on April 2, 2012, Annie MacCarthy expressed her willingness to contact relevant departments in Suzhou through various channels to promote deeper interaction and cooperation between the two cities.

e mayor expressed his willingness to work with Chen Qiumei-Annie MacCarthy and her husband Jimmy MacCarthy to strengthen and promote cultural and artistic exchanges and bilateral relations between Kilkenny and China.

notes in its ndings that there has been an increase in bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces in the last year.

e IRG was established by the Government in the wake of allegations of widespread sexual assault, bullying and harassment across the Irish military.

e report lays out the nding of the enquiry and a number of recommendations.

In a stark paragraph around the subject of misogyny in the Defence Forces the report nds: “Di erent sources available to the IRG-DF conclude that, at best, the Defence Forces barely tolerates women and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks.” ere are also ndings of assaults during training in which military personnel were kicked during exercise and as- saulted in shower facilities. e report also states that the Defence Forces must investigate suicides in the military. e report looked into the speci cs of how misogyny in the Defence Forces a ects its female members and documented reports of particular incidents, based on testimony from a ected women.

“ ese disclosures are consistent with the survey data that 88% of females reported experiencing one or more forms of sexual harassment and that 46% reported experiencing unwanted physical contact/sexual assault.

“ e implication is that not all female members experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault. e same conclusion can be drawn from the data on other forms of unacceptable behaviour,” the report found.

€37,000 funds for Freshford