In July 2015, the Gender Recognition Act was enacted and came into effect from the 4th of September 2015. The Act allows all individuals over the age of 18 to self-declare their own gender identity. 16 or 17 year olds can also be legally recognised but have to go through a different process.

Self-declaring your own gender identity means that if you were assigned male at birth, but now identify as female, you can have your gender legally recognised as female. Likewise, if you were assigned female at birth, but now identify as male, it is possible to have your gender legally recognised as male. The act means you will be fully and legally recognised as your correct gender.

What does legal recognition of gender mean?

Being legally recognised as your correct gender means that you are able to change all your legal documents, such as birth cert and passport, to have your preferred gender on them. So if you were born male but identify as female you will be able to have your sex changed from male to female on your passport etc. 

Legally changing gender does not mean that a person has or will transition medically as that is a decision an individual may or may not choose for themselves. A person may also socially define themselves as transitioned by using their perferred name and pronouns publically, and by presenting as their preferred gender through the way they dress without choosing to gain legal recognition. For more information on being transgender click here. 

Why was there a review of the Gender Recognition Act?

A review of the Gender Recognition Act took place at the end of 2017 to further analyse and take into consideration issues in the Act, including the position of people who are non-binary and the position of young people.

Non-binary

The term non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that fall outside of the gender binaries male and female. This includes individuals whose gender identity is neither exclusively male nor female, or is between or beyond genders. Similar to the usage of transgender, people under the non-binary umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms.

Young people

The position of young people in the review refers those aged 16 and 17 and those under the age of 16.

The Chair of the Review Group, Executive Director of BeLonG To Moninne Griffith, submitted the report to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty on 15 June 2018.

Recommendations from the review of the Gender Recognition Act 

Recommendation 1: A system for children and young people

The first recommendation suggests that a system of gender recognition should be introduced for children of any age, subject to the following key principles:

Parental consent

The report recommends that parental consent should be provided for those applying for a gender recognition certificate under the age of 18. The report also recommended that a legal process be put in place for cases where there is not consent from both parents or it is not possible or safe to get consent.

Creating an administrative process

The report recommends that the process should be administrative, meaning that seeking gender recognition would be via application to the Department of Social Protection, not through the court system (unless parental consent could not be obtained) and there would be no requirement for reports form medical experts, or diagnosis of any kind for individuals to change their legal gender.

Straightforward revocation process                             

A simple process should be in place in case a young person changed their mind to allow them to return to their original gender.                                                    

Third party support for the child and family involved

The report does not specify exactly what sort of third party support should be provided to a young person or their family. Instead it leaves this to the Minister to decide. The review group were clear that this role should be a supportive one, not a veto and have nothing to do with a medical process.

Recommendation 2: Legal recognition for non-binary people

Recommendation 2 recommends legal gender recognition for people who are non-binary. It also suggests that Government departments should look at the impact that this legal change may have across other existing laws.

Recommendation 3: Improve Government services

The report calls on Government Department and other public bodies to take positive steps to improve the experiences of people who are non-binary.

Recommendation 4: Reference numbers  

Recommendation 4 refers to the reference number on Gender Recognition Certificates. This recommendation would make the reference number on the Gender Recognition Certificate look the same as those that appear on a Birth Certificate. This would help to avoid issues where the new Birth Certificate looks different to the old Birth Certificate, which sometimes caused problems for people and ended up outing them unintentionally.

Recommendation 5: Change of name

Recommendation 5 states that it should be possible to legally change your name as part of the gender recognition application process. This would avoid the need for a separate process of registering a Deed Poll with the High Court.

Recommendation 6: Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland

Recommendation 6 calls for arrangements to be put in place to allow Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland and living outside the State to apply for a gender recognition certificate. It also suggests that the issue of revised birth certificates be raised at official level with UK authorities. Currently due to technical legalities these citizens are excluded from the gender recognition application process and cannot obtain an Irish Gender Recognition Certificate.

Recommendation 7: Simplifying red tape & reducing costs

Recommendation 7 aims to improve communication and work processes between departments who are involved in the Gender Recognition process to reduce the costs of replacing official documents such as Birth Certificates, passports and other legal forms of ID.

Recommendation 8: Maintaining privacy

Recommendation 8 calls for Government bodies and departments to figure out how their administrative processes can be improved to maintain the privacy of people with Gender Recognition Certificates.

Recommendation 9: System for review of the Act

Recommendation 9 calls for a further review of the Act and the impact assessment in relation to the introduction of legal recognition for non-binary people to be done within five years from the date that any of the recommended changes from this report are made.

Recommendation 10: Creating booklets for individuals and departments

Recommendation 10 calls on the Department of Social protection to produce a booklet which explains clearly and simply how to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. The booklet should also include advice on next steps that may need to be taken and a list of government departments or state bodies that the person may need to contact to update personal records.

It is also suggested that a booklet be prepared for Government Departments, other State bodies, and private sector organisations, setting out how the Act applies to them.

To read the full recommendations of the Gender Recognition Report click here.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

What is Populism and why do we need to know about it?

A “Populist” party or politician traditionally appears to be looking out for the concerns of the ordinary person. The term ‘Populism’ isn’t new in the political world but it is for a lot of us who are now trying to keep up with current affairs and make sense of what is happening all around us. In 2018 we do not have to look very far to see how populist policies have affected the world around us.

Where can we see Populist politics today?

In the last few years we have seen Brexit and Trump. In the United States, declining wages and job prospects is attributed to Mexican immigrants and Chinese exporters. In Europe, they blame immigrants and refugees for the deterioration of the welfare state and public services; this has led to the tightening of borders and Euroscepticism. Which is what pro-Brexit campaigners displayed and highlighted when promoting their campaigns.

In Italy, the new government gained support when they promised a massive crackdown on immigration and are also wanting to go into talks about leaving the Eurozone. Poland and Hungary are slowly turning their backs on democracy as they align their views  and policies with Russia, China and other authoritarian states. Angela Merkel’s political popularity has been weakened by her decision to let in as many refugees as she did to Germany, a unpopular decision.  

What’s the problem with Populism?

The problem with populism is it tends to take advantage of people by playing on their fears and doubts. Immigration has been arguably one of the biggest fears and was the driving force behind Trump and Brexit’s campaign and as of recently, Italy’s new government.

Populist approaches spilt opinion and generally play to one side of an argument; usually the side with the most amount of voters.

In the last year we have seen the voice of the ‘ordinary person’ split nearly in half. Look at the results for Brexit which were almost 50/50 (The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48%); not to mention Trump actually losing the popular vote, although he still proved to be quite popular earning 46.09% of the votes (Clinton received 48.18%).

Another problem we could see arising is parties making decisions based on the size of the voter base and who they think is easiest to take advantage of. Trump did it through his illegal use of data mining at Cambridge Analytical where they used personal data to send targeted ads on Facebook often playing on the fears of people.

Why is this happening?

Everyone has their opinion on how such leaders and political events are coming to place. Some believe it is because people are shaken by the amount of immigration; some feel it is due to poor economies. These two problems are the main sources of unhappiness for many people. Immigration, and unemployment caused by weak economies. This causes distrust in the decisions of current leaders, which populist parties take advantage of, such as Trump in America.

More cynical thinkers feel it is down to a poorly educated population misplacing their fears and disappointments. What we saw in America was low-skilled workers replaced by machines, or their factories outsourced to other countries where they can operate at cheaper rates. Many people started to fear this was happening because of high immigration and a weak economy caused by Obama’s decision making.

To these people, “Make America Great Again” resonates since their version of America has fallen apart and building a wall is seen as somewhat of a solution to their problems. Even Britain fell foul of populist promises as they were told leaving the European Union was their best option. Although it is early days, at the moment their idea of a better Britain is far away and the pro-Brexiter’s promises leave a lot to be desired.

One of the other reasons for this anger in Europe is the effects of globalisation (mass cultural integration). While it has undeniable economic benefits in allowing workers and money to move freely across borders and companies to open wherever they like, citizens are growing tired of watching their national identity disappear into the likes of Starbucks and McDonalds.

Why is populism dangerous?

These one-sided approaches to gaining popularity are damaging to society, especially when these politicians or parties get into power. If a party thinks there is a simple or singular solution to a problem, this is extremely worrying. A democracy needs discussion and debate to function to its highest potential. If a party believes immigrants are entirely to blame for low employment levels then this party is creating a problem and not completely engaged in the real issues of society.

So is there reason to be concerned? Most definitely. Populism being the ‘concern of the ordinary person’ has in itself become a concern. Unproportioned blame placed on immigrants and campaign promises that are unrealistic and damaging even as a suggestion (e.g. “we will build a wall…”) have left people disillusioned and not fully engaged in problems that have not got a singular solution.

In Ireland in the past discrimination against people based on their religious beliefs was the norm in certain areas. I firmly believe in building closer relationships with other Christian churches and I think it’s important to understand other faiths. I believe education on the topic of religion brings about peace and understanding. Nobody should feel ashamed of being religious. 

In the run up to the Pope’s visit I’m saddened to see such bad press on a daily basis. I myself am a very spiritual person. I love writing poetry, experiencing nature, engaging in deep and meaningful conversations. I believe in God – at night, before I go to bed, I enjoy nothing more than a cigarette outside beneath the stars and I chat, casually, to God. 

I was raised predominantly by my grandmother and she passed away when I was seven years old. I still miss the woman who practically reared me and I still talk to her on a daily basis. I remember that day vividly, sitting by her deathbed, my legs not long enough for my feet to touch the ground. I felt, on that day, like the most vulnerable child in Ireland. 

On my 18th birthday I buried my best friend. The morning that she died I had no choice but to hold back the tears as I sat my leaving cert German oral. A few short weeks later my cousin took his own life. That was a very, very dark year for me, on New Year’s eve that year I drank the hours away and at midnight I composed the words; “2016 may we never see the likes again, 2016 was hell, I’ll rise once more, I’ve lived to tell”. 

I had lost faith. How could God do this? I begged for proof, and I searched for proof. I found proof. On one particularly painful day, in grief I locked myself in the bathroom, I could not stop crying. I was so upset that I was vomiting. For the first time since the death of my best friend I prayed, in a nonconventional way – I screamed to God “Help me!! Send help! I need help!” Just after I’d uttered that prayer my phone lit up. A friend who I hadn’t spoken to in years had text me saying “I know this is random, I was just lighting a candle in a Church and suddenly felt an urge to text you, are you okay?” My faith was restored with that message. 

I’ve seen hard times, I’m no stranger to pain, but it wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I discovered God was the rock at the bottom. 

Faith is deeply personal to me and I would never impose it on anyone else. I will be going to see the Pope in a few weeks time. I can’t wait to see him and pray with him. I’m 20 years of age and lots of my friends are also going. These negative headlines which I read every day are hurtful. This week alone I’ve seen some articles that I felt were  extremely biased and actively tried to paint the Pope’s visit in an negative light to deter people from attending the event.  

I don’t care what anyone thinks of my beliefs, I’m not going to push my beliefs on anyone. But I’d appreciate if my friends and I could gather in Dublin to pray together without judgement and negativity. 

The reality is that the Pope is very kind to minority groups, he will, in fact, be meeting with the homeless when he comes to Ireland. Pope Francis has always shown great concern and love for certain marginalised groups. He has criticised a number of Donald Trump’s policies and he has invited refugees to the Vatican.

Let’s build bridges, not walls. Let’s be respectful of others’ beliefs. Let’s be nice to one another and love one another. Let’s be positive. Before we attack other people’s beliefs on a social media platform, let us pause and understand that faith is something which some people hold dear and that it is a deeply personal thing – my faith, for example, stems from my tough times in my life. 

 

As we’re talking more and more about mental health, it is important to know the different ways to get help and support for your mental health. One of the most popular forms of support is talk therapy. Talk therapy is where you speak to a therapist about certain issues in your life, whether it is about the future, past, or present. Therapists are non-judgemental and are looking out for your best interest. Depending on the issue, you can get a specific type of talk therapy that suits you, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychoanalytic, or Solution-focused therapy.

So, here are some tips based on the experiences of people I know who are going to or have gone to therapy.

There are no “right” or “wrong” reasons to seek out help

There is no definition of the ‘perfect patient’ so, if you are thinking about going to see a specialist, definitely take the leap. Some reasons that people go to see a therapist could be family issues, depression, extreme exam stress or managing change.

Finding the right therapist for you

At first you may not have a connection with your therapist. Just like when you are making new friends, sometimes it can take time for you to get comfortable speaking to a trained professional. One of my friends said “When I first went to therapy, I did not feel that we clicked, and I thought that maybe I could see someone who was better suited for me. But once I got used to opening up to her, I felt like we were having more of a chat than anything else.”

However, if in a couple of weeks, you feel there is no progress being made, it is ok to look for someone new to speak to. In my own experience, I had been seeing someone to talk to about some personal issues who was not the right fit for me at all. He was cold, unwelcoming, and seemed unapproachable. Even though this experience was very disheartening, if I had stopped there I would not have met a lovely woman who was the perfect person to handle my situation. She made the atmosphere calming and made me feel very comfortable.

Another friend shared a similar experience with me. She said “I had to go through 4 therapists until I found the one I liked.” Once she found the right fit she was happy with her decision. “I think you can tell when you’ve found the right therapist for you if you walk out of every session feeling a little lighter, or like your thoughts are a little clearer.” It may take a bit of time to find a suitable therapist but, once you find the person who is the right fit for you, it can make the experience and your own mental health a whole lot better.

The First Step

Taking the first step in searching for help can be the hardest. Once you decide to go to talk therapy, it helps to get an unbiased opinion to help cope and can make the big things manageable. Just getting your fears and concerns off your chest can make you feel much better. One friend said that “She told me what I already knew but hearing it from a qualified professional made me feel better about my current situation.” At the end of the day, there is no harm in trying and making that first step can begin your recovery.

Shaking the Stigma

As a country, Ireland still has a stigma against mental health. In fact, The Journal reported that “65% of us believe that being treated for a mental health problem is seen as a sign of failure in Irish society.” In reality we are the ones who are brave enough to accept we need help and have the courage to take that first step. Talk therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, if anything it is to help improve your quality of life. To kick the stigma, we need to recognise that many people we know; brothers, sisters, friends, parents, teachers, co-workers, may be going to see trained professionals to work on their personal issues.

People of all different ages, races, and genders go for lot of different reasons. We still stereotype therapy patients because there is a lack of representation. To change this, we need to add ourselves into the conversation. Just because we do not talk about going to therapy does not mean that it is not happening. For many people, it is that we are too embarrassed to speak out about it but, that stops now. I am proud to say that talk therapy has been one of the most positive influences in my life and has changed my life for the better.

Talk therapy is a great way for people to speak out about how they are feeling. Of course it is not going to make the issues in your life magically go away, but it can help you to feel better about what is going on. It may take some time and a couple of tries to find a therapist who you like, but once you do it can give you a feeling of comfort and acceptance. As a student, I think it is also important to note that there are low cost solutions available if you look for them.

On a final note, for anyone who is on the fence about seeking help from a talk therapist, I would definitely recommend going. At certain points in our lives, we are going to face hardships and it is so important to speak to someone about what is going on. Even though at first it may be difficult opening up, once you do, it can help to make your burdens a little lighter and life a little brighter.

I mbliaina tá ceiliúradh Bliain na Gaeilge á dhéanamh ar an gaeilge. Tá cúig théama le Bhliain na Gaeilge, athbheochán 125 bhliain ar an teanga, cruaitheacht an teanga, beocht na gaeilge, rannpartíocht agus an gaeltacht.

Thosaigh eagaíocht darbh ainm Conradh na Gaeilge athbeochán ar an gaeilge 125 bhliain ó shin. Bhí an eagraíocht seo bunaithe ag Dúbhglas de híde, chéad Úachtarán na hÉireann. An aidhm a bhí acu ná chun an gaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc an phobail tar éis don laghdú mór a tháinig air théis an gorta mór mar gheall ar imirce, bás agus chomh maith le sin, bhí roinnt polasaí curtha i feidhm ag an rialtais Briotanach a chur cosc ar labhairt na gaeilge agus bhí an-éifeacht ar seo ar an teanga. Tá liosta thíos do na h-imeachtaí atá ar siúl thar timpeall na tíre.

Beidh roinnt imeachtaí ar siúl i rith na mbliana chun an teanga a chur chun cinn. Tá meascán maith idir imeachtaí ildánach, ealaíonta agus rudaí don pobal ar fud an domhain. Tharla roinnt rudaí cheanna féin i mbliaina ar nós Seachtain na Gaeilge, an tréimhse roimh Lá le Pádraig nuair a spreagtar daoine chun níos mó gaeilge a labhairt. Eagraítear ‘Pop-Up Gaeltacht’ go rialta chomh maith, séard atá i gceist leis na buaileann daoine le chéile agus labhraíonn siad gaeilge lena chéile. Ní bhíonn gach duine líofa sa gaeilge agus tá fáile roimh gach duine.Tharla imeachtí eile ar nós clubanna óige trí gaeilge agus roinnt comórtas chun dánta agus dramaí a scríobh thar timpeall na tíre. Déan cinnte chun súil a caiteamh ar suíomh PEIG.ie chun na himeachtaí is déanaí a fháil.

Is é an príomh aidmh, is dócha, le Bliain na Gaeilge ná chun lahairt agus úsáid na gaeilge a mhéadú i measc an pobal, ach go háirithe le daoine atá líofa sa gaeilge atá loinnithe taobh amuigh do ceantar gaeltachta agus atá thar lear. Déantar é seo trí na himeachtaí ar nós Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Tá comhpairtíocht mór i gceist le Bliain na Gaeilge agus tugtar roinnt cabhair ó na pobail ar fud na tíre. Mar chuid don bhlian tabhairfaidh aitheantas do na pobail gaeltachta seo timpeall na tíre agus chun na deacrachtaí a bhíonn acu ag leanúint a saol trí gaeilge a fheabhsú.

Tá an-tábhacht le Bliain na Gaeilge i mbliana. Tá suim ag i bhfad níos mo daoine gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a labhairt. Tugtar deis do daoine nach mbeadh ró-compordach gaeilge a labhairt, í a labhairt i spás le daoine atá ar leibhéal céanna leo. Is ócáid iontach í chun do gaeilge a fheabhsú nó chun gaeilge a fhoghlaim ó thús. Tá an gaeilge bheo agus is linn ar fad í.

Imeachtaí

Baile Átha Cliath

Clubanna Óige Feachtas Óg-Ghluaiseacht Gaeilge, ag ceol as Gaeilge ag an Seó “Big Sparkle” sa Helix

Dé Sathairn, 01 Nollaig 2018

19.00r.n-21.00r.n

[email protected] /01 865 6758

Ciarraí

Dúisigh do Dúchás- ‘An invitation to any man or woman who longs to speak Irish but never got round to it’

Dé hAoine, 07 Méan Fómhar 2018

Níos mó eolas ar: https://peig.ie/cuardaigh-imeacht/event/119958-duisigh-do-dhuchas-a-wild-weekend-in-west-kerry

Fear Manach

Deireadh Seachtaine Cúlturtha

Dé hAoine, 20 Méan Fómhar go Dé Satharn, 22 Méan Fómhar

[email protected]

Gaillimh

Club Oíge do Dhéagóirí 12-14

Ón Máirt, 14 Lúnasa ar aghaidh

[email protected]

Maigh Eo

Lón Gaeilge gach Déardaoinn i mbialann Flannery’s i mBaile an Róba

Ón Déadaoin, 16 Lúnasa ar agaidh

[email protected]

Tiobráid Árainn

Féile na Samhain- Roinn imeachtaí ar siúl ar nós trath na gceist agus díospóireachtaí

Dé hAoine, 9 Samhain go Dé Satharn, 24 Samhain

[email protected]

 

Tá i bhfad níos mo imeachtaí le fáil ar an suíomh PEIG.ie.

Direct Provision is a system used in Ireland since 2000 to accommodate and provide basic welfare to asylum seekers. An asylum-seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country. They haven’t yet been legally recognised as a refugee in the country they are living in and are waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim. Direct Provision centres are also known as accommodation or reception centres. They were originally designed as a short-term solution to provide accommodation for up to six months to people while they waited for an outcome on their asylum applications.

There are currently 47 centres in total in Ireland, most of which are run by for-profit by private contractors. There are more than 7,000 asylum seekers living in Direct Provision centres across Ireland, including over 2,000 children.

Doras Luimní’s Key Issues with Direct Provision

Doras Luimní is an NGO which was founded in 2000 in response to the establishment of Direct Provision. They provide a free and confidential advice and legal information service on a range of immigration-related issues. Their website highlights the key issues with Direct Provision as:

Irish Government plan to end Direct Provision by 2024

In February 2021, the Government White Paper on Ending Direct Provision was released. The White Paper outlines the plan by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability & Youth on how it will end Direct Provision by the end of 2024, while transitioning to a new not-for-profit reception system. The White Paper envisages two phases of reception for international protection applicants:

 
Phase 1: 
  • Initial four month stay in State owned reception and integration centres
  • Six reception centres in total
  • Intensive orientation programme including English language classes
  • Early access to information on a range of services e.g. legal aid/ healthcare
  • Eligibility to open bank accounts and obtain driver’s licences
  • Daily Expenses Allowance will remain in place until phase 2
  • People will have health and vulnerability assessments to inform accommodation and supports in phase 2
Phase 2: 
  • Own-door, self-contained houses or apartments for families and own-door or own-room accommodation for single people, in the community
  • NGOs will be contracted to provide support to vulnerable people
  • Resettlement workers will be provided in each county to link people with services
  • Applicants and their families will have the right to access mainstream services, such as in relation to education and health
  • Access to further intensive English language supports to be provided
  • Income support payment at a rate similar to the Supplementary Welfare Allowance
  • Child support payment
  • Access to employment if applicants do not receive a first instance decision within six months of applying for International Protection as well as access to employment supports

Deaths at Direct Provision Centres

In 2017 the Irish Catholic published figures that 44 people had died in Direct Provision between 2007 and 2017, including three stillborn babies and one “neonatal death”. The publication had received the information in response to a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Justice. Two people were recorded to have died as a result of suicide and one resident was stabbed to death. The “suspected cause of death” recorded for over one third of the people in Direct Provision was unknown.

Sylva, a transgender woman who went only by her first name, died on Thursday the 2nd of August at the Direct Provision Centre she had been living in Galway. Sylva had been living in an all-male direct provision centre since early last year and had come out as a transgender woman while living in Ireland. Sylva’s death has raised discussion in the media and on social media about the inadequacies of Direct Provision and more specifically the services available to and treatment of LGBTI+ residents at the centres.

Living in Direct Provision as a young person

If you are aged 16 to 25, have lived or are currently living in Direct Provision and would like to share your experience with us please email [email protected] to become a content contributor.

A part of our heritage has been lost throughout centuries of colonialism and erasure. The Irish language is one of the biggest cultural indicators and it’s being wiped away more and more each day. Young people have turned away from their national language due to the poor standard of our education system. The single best way to learn a language is through immersion. But how can the people of Ireland immerse themselves in the language when it’s hardly used across our country? Bilingual signs and official documents are a nice gesture but they do little. Projects like TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta are a step in the right direction, but they don’t go far enough. The Irish government needs to do something to improve the standard of our language across our nation. I believe the best way to do this is through these three areas

1. The education system

It will come as no shock to anyone who has spent any amount of time in the Irish education system that the standard of Irish teaching in this country is abysmal. We need to revive the Irish curriculum and make it more accessible to learners.

Firstly, we need to make it cross-curricular. I have an Italian friend who speaks fluent English and French as well as Italian. In her school she takes History through French and Economics through English. I believe we should make use of a system like this here in Ireland. Why not teach subjects like History and Geography through Irish so that we can start using the language without trying to consciously learn it? It’s not as if studying Irish history through Irish is going to be a hindrance to anyone’s career. In my opinion this is the perfect way to start implementing Irish in niche aspects of people’s lives.

Secondly, I think we need to revamp and change the Irish curriculum itself. Right now it’s trying too hard to be like the English course when the people of this country just don’t have the skills to do that. We need to put more emphasis on the comprehension and composition of the language through oral and aural work, as well as more relevant written pieces. Rather than many different poems and verses (some of which are outdated), we should focus more on topical and relevant pieces such as novels and plays like An Triail or Gafa. A more accessible curriculum will be more interesting for students.

Lastly, we need more Irish classes available to adults. Free classes. We can’t just implement the language in the education system, everyone in the country should have the opportunity to learn the language without any barriers. I’m sure plenty of Irish teachers would love the opportunity at increased employment for after-school adult classes if the government were willing to pay.

2. The entertainment industry

Ireland is a gushing fountain of talent when it comes to actors, musicians, writers and poets. We need to start tapping into this talent and encouraging artists to make more art through the medium of Irish. The main reason more young people don’t watch TG4 is simply because the shows on there aren’t appealing to young people. Irish-made English-language movies and television shows have been incredibly successful in recent years and if we made some in Irish, I guarantee it will spark an interest in the language. How are people supposed to use a language if they can’t be immersed in it? Thousands of people across Ireland view and share the music videos created by Coláiste Lurgan which shows that people have an interest in it. The government needs to invest money into the creation of more Irish-language entertainment outlets so that the people of our country can learn to enjoy their language and see it as something more than an obligation to learn.

3. The public sector

In recent years the government has taken Irish out of the Civil Service, with the removal of the language as a requirement and the removal of bonus points for passing an Irish exam before interview. This, in my opinion, is a poor decision. If anything we should be implementing Irish more-so in the public sector. I find it astonishing that the TDs in the Dáil speak in English for the majority of affairs. There isn’t even a requirement for TDs to speak Irish! With the fact that the terminology of our government is completely in Irish (i.e. ‘Dáil’, ‘Seanad’, ‘Taoiseach’ ‘Teachta Dála’, etc.), I think it’s safe to assume that those who fought for independence had somehow intended for Irish to be the main language used once again.

So why have we not made more of an effort to make this a realty? Right now we produce all government documents in English and Irish but in reality English usually takes precedence. We should put more of an emphasis on the Irish documents and make a greater effort at using Irish in other aspects of public affairs like the budget debates or the election campaigns. I believe we should do this across the public sector, not just for the political affairs. If the public portion of our society isn’t going to make the effort to use our national language, what hope do we have of implementing it in the private lives of our people?

Obviously these are no easy task and they will take time and great effort. But they’re important. Political parties need to come together and push for more Irish immersion as a cross-party issue, otherwise those who push on their own may risk public dislike and the issue would go nowhere positive. Irish is important. It’s something that was taken from us but it’s not dead yet. We still have the chance to revive our language and I believe we should do all we can to do so.

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.

In the age of Tinder and Grindr, more and more people are using online apps to date and have casual sex. If you do decide to meet with someone from a dating app, here are my 10 tips to help ensure that you stay safe:

1. Ask for their social media

When you’re chatting with someone online ask to see their social media pages. Most people who are genuine won’t mind sharing their Instagram or Facebook. This lets you get a better idea of what someone is like and you have a little bit more information about them before meeting up.

2. Ask for more pics

Make sure to have a couple of pictures of someone before you meet with them. If someone is only willing to share one photo they might not be genuine and it’s safer to avoid meeting with them. Even more so, it’s definitely better to avoid anyone who is unwilling to share any photo of their face.

3. Agree on expectations before

Make sure you and the person you’re meeting with are on the same page before you meet with them. If you’re willing to have sex, agree exactly what sexual acts you feel comfortable doing beforehand. Remember that if you change your mind or don’t feel comfortable, you can say no to anything, whether it was pre-agreed or not.

4. Leave any valuables at home 

Don’t bring a lot of cash or anything valuable with you to meet with someone from an online app. If the person is coming over to your place, hide anything valuable from sight. It’s unlikely someone you meet with would steal from you, but it’s best to be safe.

5. Tell someone your plans

Obviously you might not feel completely comfortable telling your friends you’re going to meet with someone from a dating app but it’s important for someone to know where you’re going. You don’t need to tell them all the details but it’s important someone knows where you’re going. Use something like Snapchat Maps or Find My Friend so that your friend can see your location at all times.

6. Meet wherever you're most comfortable

It might be best to meet someone in a public place if you’re meeting for a date. It’ll be safer if anything should go wrong. But if you’re meeting someone for a hook-up you might wish to meet at your place as it might be a better option than going to their place. You’ll hopefully feel more comfortable and confident in your own space.

7. Avoid alcohol and drugs 

If possible try to avoid drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs when meeting people from dating apps. While you’re under the influence you lose your ability to make the rational decision and you might have an increased sex drive. This could put you at risk of doing something dangerous.

8. Don’t be afraid to say no

Consent is crucially important. If you feel uncomfortable with anything that's happening with someone you met from a dating app, say no. Don't feel pressured into anything you're not comfortable with and don’t feel you need do anything that you’re not 100% happy doing. Make sure you respect their decision if they say no. 

9. Have safe sex

It’s best not to have unsafe sex with anyone you've met on the internet. Always carry protection like a condom or a dental dam with you in case you ever need it. If you’re having regular sex it’s important to get regular STI checks too.

10. Report anything that goes wrong

If anything happens that makes you uncomfortable, report it to the local authorities. Remember if you have been hurt by someone from a dating app, it’s not your fault. If you have been sexually assaulted contact the Rape Crisis Centre for support on 1800 77 8888 (24-hour service). They can give you the information you need to take the next steps. More information on what to do if you have been sexually assaulted can be found here.

In this modern age of dating, everything is going digital, but hopefully, with these tips, you’ll stay safe when meeting with people from dating apps. Do everything you can to protect yourself.

Going back to school after the summer holidays can sometimes seem like a daunting task, but there are simple steps you can take to help reduce your worries around stepping back into the classroom.

Steps to reduce anxiety when going back to school

If you are feeling anxious in the days leading up to school, here are some things to try:

Talk to someone about it

If you are feeling anxious about going back to school it is important to speak to someone about it. Whether your fears are about classes, teachers or your classmates, talking to someone can help to give you perspective on the situation and find a solution where possible. If you are worried about bullying, make an appointment with the school counsellor or a teacher you trust before term starts so they can be aware of the issue and help to support you during the year.

Be positive

Going back to school means you are starting a new year and can forget about the one you left behind. If you grades or experiences weren’t great last year, forget about it now and commit to making the most out of this one. Remember that there is more to school than just classes and homework. Join a new sport or take part in drama or other after school activities to help you enjoy the overall experience.

Surround yourself with friends

Regardless of whether you have one or ten friends in school, having someone close to you to support you on your first day back can make a big difference. If you are anxious about your first day organise to walk to school with a friend or to meet them outside before you go in. If you have siblings in your school and it’s your first day let them know how you are feeling, ask questions and they may be able to offer advice which can calm your nerves.

You could also arrange something fun to do with friends outside of school in the first week so that you have something to look forward to in the first few days.

Get organised

Be prepared the night before going back to school, lay your uniform out and have your bag packed and ready to go. Get up with enough time that you can have a breakfast and ease yourself into the day. Giving yourself plenty of time to wake up in the morning can help you to relax instead of being in a rush to leave the house.

Remember to breathe

You may feel like there isn’t much you can control when going back to school but there are little things you can do to help relieve anxiety in certain situations. Focusing on your breathing when you are feeling overwhelmed or panicked can help to calm you down. Simple breathing exercises like counting in your head while taking deep, slow breaths can help to regulate your breathing when you feel you are getting worked up.

For more information on dealing with stress and anxiety click here.

Anyone who has ever tried to cut down the time they spend on social media knows that having apps like Instagram and Facebook on your phone can make it very difficult to resist checking notifications and feeds.

Over the coming weeks, both Facebook and Instagram aim to make that easier by introducing new tools to help you manage your time on the app, which they say will give users more control over the time spent on their social media. 

Facebook has said that the release of these new tools comes after “collaboration and inspiration from leading mental health experts and organisations, academics, our own extensive research and feedback from our community.”

Facebook and Instagram’s new time management tools

As soon as these tools have been rolled out, you will be able to access the time management tools from the settings in the app.

On Instagram tap ‘Your Activity’, and on Facebook, tap ‘Your Time on Facebook’.

You will be brought to a dashboard where you can view your usage and manage your time.

Average time spent on app

Image: Facebook

The dashboard will show you what your average time spent on the app is, and you will also be able to look at certain days in more detail to see how long you were using the app for.

This could help to show patterns in your use and times that you might need to work on in cutting down your usage.

Reminders to stop using the app

Image: Facebook

You will also have the option to set the amount of time you want to spend on the app each day, and receive an alert whenever you have reached your set amount of time for the day.

You can cancel or change the reminder any time.

Mute notifications

Image: Facebook

If you find it hard to resist an unread notification, then you can also use the mute push notifications setting. You can set the amount of time you want to mute notifications for so you can avoid getting distracted.

Why Facebook have introduced these tools

Facebook have said that these tools are a step towards taking responsibility for how time spent on their platforms can impact on people. Although these tools could ultimately mean less time spent on Instagram and Facebook, their goal is improve the quality of the time you do spend online.

Learn more about these tools and other new features here.

Featured image: iStock/AdrianHancu

Hi, I’m a 19 years old transgender guy from Meath, and I’ve been homeless and couch surfing for almost two months now. This is the first day I’ve been sick since I got kicked out. Right now as I’m writing this, I can’t get over how lucky I am to be in a mate’s house with somewhere to sleep and food to eat. Since I got kicked out, I’ve been moving constantly between the houses of three different friends and my girlfriend. Some of my friends’ parents have been so nice about it, have offered so much help and insisted I’m welcome whenever. Others have (not intentionally, I think) made me feel like a bit of burden if I stay longer than two days and don’t really believe I’m stuck like this. Which is fair, it doesn’t really feel or sound like a real situation. How does a 19 year old end up homeless on his own? (Hint: have parents you never got along with and be transgender at the same time.)

I don’t like having to rely on other people for almost everything, because I feel bad and have no way to pay them back for helping. But it’s either that or find a street that would be semi-safe to sleep on, and I think we’d all go for the former. It’s a very stressful situation (I take back everything I’ve ever said about the Leaving Cert now) and honestly I don’t know if there’s a way out of this.

I don’t have an address anymore, so I can’t get a job or jobseekers allowance or any source of money. I can’t go to college if I wanted to. I have to rely on money from a gofundme campaign to pay for food, clothes and buses to all the places I’m able to stay, because of course none of my friends live in the same town. I can’t get the antidepressants I was prescribed months ago because I can’t get to where I did live, I can’t change to a GP around here, I can’t get a medical card, and even if I could get to a GP I couldn’t afford an appointment.

I wish there was an easy fix for this, but this is a country with unregulated rent prices and greedy landlords. It’s impossible for people with jobs to find places to live at reasonable prices and students are left on their own to find accommodation to go to college. If they can’t do it, I don’t see how it will ever be possible for me to do it.

Despite being stuck with nothing to do everyday with no job and no money, despite the mental breakdowns every few days, despite going hungry some nights, despite being completely stuck right now, despite feeling empty and useless to society, I am one of the lucky ones thanks to all the people I have trying to look out for and help me. There’s so many other people and families that are homeless that don’t have people to look out for them and all of us need help right now.

So next time you’re out in Dublin or somewhere for the day, or you’re walking around your own hometown, have some empathy for once. Educate yourself and quit complaining about homeless people and saying they should just “get a job” and stop “being a ‘junkie.”‘ It’s impossible for me to emphasise enough how I’m feeling about this, nevermind how anyone else is. So I hope reading this has opened people’s eyes a little bit.

 

Durex has recalled several batches of condoms made in 2018 because they do not “pass the requirement for burst pressure” as they come towards their expiry date. This means that the tests have shown that there is increased chance for the condoms to burst before the expiry date displayed on the condoms' packaging. 

The expiry dates of the recalled condoms are between December 2020 and February 2021. The chances of them having burst before the date they were recalled is low. For safety reasons all condoms from these batches should be returned to the store where they were bought. A full refund will be given on all affected condoms returned.

Have my Durex condoms been recalled?

The affected batches of condoms are Durex Real Feel “Latex-Free” and Durex Latex Free Polyisoprene condoms that have an expiry date between December 2020 and February 2021. 

To know if your condoms have been recalled check the batch number on the outside of the box that your condoms came in and the foil wrapping on the individual condom. If the batch number matches any of those which are listed below do not use the condoms and return them to where you bought them.

Durex condom batch numbers

Batch Number of Durex condoms recalled in Ireland.
Batch Number of Durex condoms recalled in the UK.
Where to find the batch number on recalled Durex condom packages.

What should I do if I used a condom that has been recalled?

The chance of any of the condoms from the recalled batch breaking before they were recalled is low. If you have any health concerns you should contact your pharmacist or G.P. Click here for more information on the recalled condoms.

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