Ireland’s housing crisis has been highlighted in a report assessing human rights in 155 countries by Amnesty International.
The State of the World’s Human Rights report has noted that over 4,000 children are living in emergency homeless accommodation, while tens of thousands of young people are locked out of the housing market.
Executive Director of Amnesty International Stephen Bowen said this means the Government needs to take bolder and more decisive steps to solve the housing crisis including a referendum on the right to housing.
There is also a spotlight on Ireland’s abortion services in the report.
The organisation has called on the Government to prioritise the implementation of recommendations contained in the abortion services review by Barrister Marie O’Shea which was published last year.
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The Taoiseach has apologised on behalf of the State to the families of the victims who died in the Dublin Stardust fire tragedy.
Forty-eight people were killed when the blaze ripped through the nightclub in 1981.
After a more than 40-year campaign for justice, last week an inquest found that the 48 victims had been unlawfully killed.
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the State failed the families of the Stardust tragedy when “you needed us the most”.
“I know there have been many times when you thought this day would never come,” Mr Harris said.
“I know you were forced to endure a living nightmare which began when your loved ones were snatched from you in a devastating fire. “Their unfinished stories became your story. The defining story of your lives and the lives of your parents and other family members who left this life before ever seeing justice.
“I am deeply sorry you were made to fight for so long that they went to their graves never knowing the truth.
“Today we say formally and without any equivocation, we are sorry.
“We failed you when you needed us the most, from the very beginning we should have stood with you but instead we forced you to stand against us.” Mr Harris read out the names of each of the 48 victims to the Dáil, along with a few words about their personalities and hobbies and dreams.
He added: “We think as well of the hundreds of people who were injured and who are scarred forever, physically and mentally scarred by fire and scarred by survival.
Lisa Lawlor, who was 17 months old when her parents Francis and Maureen Lawlor died in the Stardust fire, said she is “very, very happy” with the Taoiseach’s apology.
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Kilkenny County Council has been allocated just over 1.3 million euros as part of the Government’s Local Improvement Scheme allocation to upgrade rural lane ways, reports the Kilkenny People. The funding was announced on Tuesday by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, as part of a €40million package for local authorities throughout the country.
Welcoming the news, Councillor Andrew McGuinness said, “this is very positive news for Kilkenny as it will fund repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways that badly need upgrading.
“It will help rural home owners who live and work on private lanes that are not maintained by the local authority to access their homes and farms on good quality, safe surfaces” he said.
Councillor Joe Lyons also welcomed the funding announcement.
“This is extremely welcome news for the rural dwellers and a massive investment in the fabric of rural Kilkenny,” he said.
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A school in Kilkenny has been given initial project approval for an extension which will include two modular framework buildings. Minister Norma Foley announced that the green light has been given for the initial project approval for the Mother of Fair Love School in Kilkenny. Deputy John McGuinness welcomed the announcement “This will make a massive difference to the school and will make it possible to approve school places for those on the waiting list,” he said.
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There are patients waiting on trolleys in the emergency department at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny today and patients waiting on the wards. That’s according to the latest daily INMO trolley watch figures.
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Weather
Wednesday will be another dry day for most with a mix of sunshine and cloud. Mild with highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees, mildest away from the East Coast, in a light to moderate northerly breeze.
The Solar UV Index is moderate for today Wednesday and tomorrow Thursday.
Tonight will be generally dry under broken cloud. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees, coldest where clear breaks persist. A few mist patches too with light variable breezes.
