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« Previous Entries Next Entries »Campaigners call for RTE to operate long wave transmitter at full capacity
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008The following is a press release calling for an amendment to the Broadcasting Bill that would ensure that RTE would be required to operate its long wave transmitter at full licenced capacity. Ean is supporting an amendment that would require this because of our concern that the long wave service is being broadcast at less power than that which was previously required by Longwave 252.
Campaigners have called for an amendment to the Broadcasting Bill, currently being debated in the Seanad, that would require RTE to operate its longwave transmitter at full licensed capacity. They say that the current situation, in which RTE is operating at reduced power, means that RTE is not living up to its public service remit.
Kevin J. O’Connell, a former director of engineering at RTE, says that the long wave transmitter has been downgraded, and it now transmits at about half-power. “When Atlantic 252 was transmitting on the same wavelength to reach teenagers in Britain, it was broadcasting at 500 kW. Now it’s only broadcasting at 300 kW – and the need for power has actually increased, not decreased, in recent decades due to a proliferation of mass-produced electronic devices that pollute the spectrum.”
O’Connell continued, “With the reduction of power comes a reduction in service. The move has had a detrimental effect on broadcasting to emigrants and those in the North. It also presents a serious problem regarding national safety in the event of an emergency.�
The issue has emerged with new importance since the closure of medium wave, leaving the long wave service as the only radio alternative to FM.
The power reduction has implications for emergency preparedness, says Enda O’Kane, retired RTE engineer. The Government’s recently distributed book, “Preparing for Major Emergencies”, calls for keeping a battery-powered radio on hand for emergencies. And in an emergency, people may be taking shelter in buildings where foil insulation or mountainous terrain weaken radio signals. “In an emergency”, says O’Kane, “RTE would be obliged to broadcast at full power to ensure the best possible access to information – but the long wave transmitter is not being managed and maintained with this in mind”.
Modern technologies have actually made it more vital for transmission at maximum power. Thanks to the increased use of new forms of lighting, switches and other electronic devices added to by a more relaxed regulatory system electromagnetic pollution levels have risen – with this comes a need for increased power to fight the effects of the increased electrical interference.
The reduction in power hurts the Irish in Britain, who are suffering from poor long wave reception – their only radio option since the shutdown of medium wave. Éan, the Emigrant Advice Network, is also calling for the resumption of long wave broadcasting at full power.
Éan director Noreen Bowden says, “Broadcasting to emigrants is part of RTE’s public service remit, and legislation passed last year provided for RTE to provide radio as well as television broadcasting to Irish overseas communities. RTE is making welcome progress in working on its television service to emigrants in Britain, but we are concerned that the current long wave service is less than adequate. A restoration of the long wave transmitter to full power would be an important step.�
“RTE must keep in mind its public service remit”, says Mr O’Kane. “They have an obligation to ensure our safety and to broadcast to the Irish overseas”.
For more information:
Contact Enda O’Kane 086 1719886 or Noreen Bowden at 0872111397.
Galway book features tales of returnees and newcomers
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008A book published in Galway features the stories of returned emigrants and newcomers to the city. “Galway – City of Strangers” has been edited by Poet-in-Residence Michael O’Loughlin. The book was developed out of a series of workshops by O’Loughlin, and features individuals who returned to Galway years after emigrating, as well as people from such places as the US, France, Poland, Hungary, Nigeria, and Russia.
See a Galway Advertiser article about the book.
Ean, Crosscare Migrant Project issue warning on visa overstay
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008Ean and the Crosscare Migrant Project have issued a press release warning against overstaying on visits to the US. The press release has been picked up by the Irish Times, which published an article titled “Warning against touting visa rules”, and the Last Word radio programme.
The full text of the press release:
Emigrant Support Groups warn of dangers of “overstaying� in the US
Two emigrant agencies have warned young Irish people planning to visit the States this summer to be aware of the dangers of staying longer than allowed. And they warned that, while immigrant advocates are still hoping for visa reform in the future, it is not likely that any deal would assist recently arrived migrants.
Crosscare Migrant Project and the Emigrant Advice Network (Éan) have said their contacts in the United States are regularly coming across young Irish looking for work there, without proper documentation.
“We have heard a number of young Irish people going to the US on holiday who may be planning to stay longer than they are allowed�, said Paula Lally of Crosscare Migrant Project. Lally said that Irish organisations in the US are reporting that they are still seeing a number of young people walk in and make inquiries about jobs, even though they are not legally allowed to work.
Éan director Noreen Bowden said, “Some people may have heard about efforts toward visa reform, and they may be underestimating the dangers of a visa overstay in the hope that they may benefit from any impending deal. This is not likely. While immigrant advocates in the US are still hoping for immigration reform in the future, there is no guarantee, and all the efforts are being aimed at people who have been over in the US for a length of time.�
Both organisations outlined the dangers of overstaying a visa. “You may be arrested, detained indefinitely, and then deported,� says Lally. “US authorities are more vigilant than ever about checking documentation.� She continues: “If you entered on the holiday visa waiver programme, and you overstay and are caught, you have no right to an appeal.�
Irish organisations in the US also report that it is becoming more difficult for illegal immigrants in the US to obtain a Social Security Number, apply for a driver’s licence or open a bank account.
Paula Lally said there were other long term implications for anyone found to violate visa regulations. “It’s not just the time in detention: the effects are long-lasting. US authorities will ban people who violate their visa and overstay from reentering for three or ten years, depending on how long you have overstayed. But there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to go back to the US even after that time – you will need to reapply for a visa, and the authorities may refuse you.� She added that those on the J1 programme should ensure that they leave on time, and not overstay by even a day.
Crosscare Migrant Project advises anyone considering entering the US on the Visa Waiver Program to reconsider their options and look at applying for the correct visa that will entitle them to live and work legally in the US, such as the DV Lottery Visa or employer-sponsored visas.
For more information, contact:
Paula Lally, Crosscare Migrant Project. (01 – 873 2844, paulalally@crosscare.ie, www.migrantproject.ie)
Noreen Bowden
Emigrant Advice Network (Éan). (01 – 977 9011, noreen@ean.ie, www.ean.ie)Notes for editors:
1) Crosscare is the social care agency of the Dublin Diocese
2) The Holiday Visa Waiver Programme is the facility for Irish citizens to enter the US for a holiday without visa pre-clearance
3) The J1 Programme allows young Irish students to live and work in the US for up to 3 months.
Ean member group seeks Information Worker
Sunday, June 1st, 2008The Crosscare Migrant Project, an Ean member group, is seeking a staff member. Here is the text of their job ad:
Crosscare Migrant Project
Located in Dublin’s city centre, Crosscare Migrant Project (formerly Emigrant Advice) is an information & advocacy service for migrants including intending & returning emigrants.
We are now recruiting an
Information Worker
The successful candidate will carry out CMP’s work in relation to Irish emigration and return migration and will:
-have a keen interest in issues relating to Irish emigration and return migration
-have experience of information & advocacy work (including in the areas of homelessness and social welfare)
-have a good knowledge of migration issues
-be committed to a human rights based approach
-have a relevant qualification or equivalent.
Salary Scale: 35,216 – 41,623 euro
A full job description for the role is available by emailing hr@crosscare.ie
To apply, please send a comprehensive CV and cover letter to: Ciara Carty, HR Manager, Crosscare, The Red House, Clonliffe College, Dublin 3 or by email to: hr@crosscare.ie
For further information, call HR on Tel: 01 836 0011.
Closing date for all applications will be 5pm, Thursday, 5 June 2008.
Interviews for short-listed candidates will be held on Thursday, 12 June 2008.
Crosscare Migrant Project is a programme of CROSSCARE, the Social Care Agency for the Dublin Archdiocese.
Crosscare is an equal opportunities employer.
Emigration and Samantha Power, ex-Obama adviser
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008An Irish Independent columnist has written a reflection piece on Dublin-born Samantha Power, the former foreign policy adviser to US presidential candidate Barack Obama. Writer John Crown focuses in on the emigration at an early age of Ms Power, who left Ireland at an early age with her mother and brother after the breakup of her parents’ marriage. He notes that although she has spoken of the difficulties of settling in, she has become a ‘simply staggeringly accomplished woman’.
What would have happened to Samantha if she had stayed in Ireland? What would she have been doing? Would she have been influencing international policy and winning Pulitzer prizes, or would she have been forced through party loyalty to stand in the tent at the Galway Races (thankfully now defunct — well done, Mr Cowen) and share pleasantries with the building industry?
Would she have been advising taoisigh on foreign aid, or responses to genocide or dealings with peak oil in a warming world, or would she instead be picking which incompetent to put in a given ministry in order to achieve regional electoral balance.
I think that Ireland could never have allowed her to thrive and grow the way that America did… [T]hank God she emigrated.
Read the article on IrishIndependent.com.
HSE sending children abroad involuntarily for care
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008A local newspaper report has revealed that it is HSE policy to send troubled children out of the country to as far away as the US – for services that they say are not available in Ireland. The report says that children are being held against their will, without physical contact with their families, and have had their passports confiscated.
The Mayo News is reporting this week that five teenagers who had been put into the care of the Health Service Executive are now in the Boys Town camp in Nebraska. The first teen was sent from Roscommon two years ago as part of what the newspaper calls ‘an experiment’; three more may be sent out by the end of May. The paper reports that it is the ordinary policy of the programme to only hold children against their will for a six-month period; after that, they are ordinarily free to leave. However, the passports of the Irish children have been confiscated, and a number of them have been kept against their will for six months, according to the report.
Another issue raised in the report is that it is Boys Town policy to encourage visits between families and children, but Irish parents have been denied access to their children.
The HSE acknowledged that its policy is to send young people abroad sometimes, in a statement to the newspaper:
From time to time the HSE use facilities outside its jurisdiction, including facilities in the UK and USA. These children are under the care of the HSE and are sent under the direction of the court for specialised treatment that is not available in Ireland. There would be regular reviews, care plans and ongoing contact between these facilities and HSE staff.
Kieran McGrath, a child welfare consultant told the Today FM’s evening drivetime programme that there are over 5,000 children in care in Ireland and about ten have been sent out of the country because the services the HSE says they need are not available here.
Of reports that they are being held against their will, Mr McGrath said, “Youngsters always want to go home, it doesn’t matter whether they are far away or near at home, youngsters will always want to go home, regardless of the circumstances.”
The newspaper concludes its report with the following:
« Previous Entries Next Entries »In 1778, many Irish children that misbehaved were sent to New Zealand’s Botany Bay. It is astounding that 230 years later, children are still being sent to remote camps in far-flung parts of the world as a solution to their behavioural problems.