The Government has been asked to explain why the Garda spend on weapons has increased ten-fold between 2010 and 2011. Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice and Equality, Jonathan O'Brien TD, put the question to the Minister for Justice after it was revealed in a Parliamentary question that not only had the spend on firearms rocketed in the last year but that the Gardaí had also spent over €30 million on firearms training over a six year period. Free article

On Tuesday (March 13) an All Party Oireachtas report published today said that if Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton goes ahead with her plan to introduce a Single Working Age Payment, the ratio of jobseekers to vacancies could more than double. Free article

EDITORIAL | EAGARFHOCAL

Polls and political alternatives

THE Behaviour and Attitudes survey for the Sunday Times shows Sinn Féin support in the 26 Counties jumping four points to 25%, making it the biggest challenger to Fine Gael (32%), ahead of Fianna Fáil (dropping four points to 16%) and the Labour Party down to 10%. (Independents — ranging across the political spectrum... Free article

OPINION

INCREASING UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL RESPECT BY REACHING OUT TO UNIONISTS

» BY DECLAN KEARNEY, Sinn Féin National Chairperson

MANY YEARS AGO, unionists told republicans that our words could not be heard over the sound of guns and bombs. That was in a period when republicans sought contact and dialogue with unionist and Protestant people against the backdrop of the... Free article

THE VITA CORTEX OCCUPATION, CORK | ‘THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY — IT IS ABOUT JUSTICE’

» BY DARREN O’KEEFFE
Co-ordinator of the Support the Vita Cortex Workers Online Campaign
(Writing in a personal capacity)

AS I SIT DOWN to write this, the Vita Cortex workers have entered the 70th day of their sit-in. There have been a lot of words used to describe their story over the past few... Free article

A question of equality for brothers as well as sisters

BY MARY LOU McDONALD

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY is an important date on the political calendar. It’s the day on which women’s contribution to public life is recognised. It’s also the day on which the great and the good lament the lack of women elected to public office.

On 8 March every year, the system scratches its head and... Free article

BUDGET 2012 | THE CUTS HITTING ONE-PARENT FAMILIES

 » BY FRANCES BYRNE CEO of OPEN, representing lone-parent groups in Ireland

THE untold story of the 2012 Budget is, without question, the dramatic changes to social welfare provision for 92,000 one-parent families.  There were a set of general cuts, which affected families who rely on a weekly, means-tested social income support... Free article