I would like to formally wish my fellow NUI Seanad candidates the very best of luck in the electin, which officially begins today.
To all 21 candidates, enjoy the campagin.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Reply to anonymous
Hello anonymous
In response to your comment, the answer is that yes, I have flagged this with the local authorities in question and with the Equality Athority.
I have a regular dialogue going on for some months and so far I have made considerable progress but my overall objective is not to complain as you put it but to bring this issue to the attention of the decision makers and to get the audible lights issue standardised. I do not complain - this is not my way, I only believe in action and my record to date in this area will speak for itself.
Thank you for your comments though, at least you are interested enough to write in to this blog.
Tina
In response to your comment, the answer is that yes, I have flagged this with the local authorities in question and with the Equality Athority.
I have a regular dialogue going on for some months and so far I have made considerable progress but my overall objective is not to complain as you put it but to bring this issue to the attention of the decision makers and to get the audible lights issue standardised. I do not complain - this is not my way, I only believe in action and my record to date in this area will speak for itself.
Thank you for your comments though, at least you are interested enough to write in to this blog.
Tina
Friday, May 11, 2007
General Election
Dear folks
At present we are being bombarded with general election bluster and rhetoric, however amidst all this talk have you once heard the word "rights for the marginalised", or "rights for people with disabilities"? Because I haven't.
How are things ever going to change if we are not included?
Comments please
At present we are being bombarded with general election bluster and rhetoric, however amidst all this talk have you once heard the word "rights for the marginalised", or "rights for people with disabilities"? Because I haven't.
How are things ever going to change if we are not included?
Comments please
Friday, April 20, 2007
A Message From Dr. John Kelly
Message to all Graduates of the National University of Ireland
Tina Lowe will make a great impact as your representative of the graduates of the National University of Ireland in Seanad Eireann and I urge all graduates to give her your support.
Since graduating with a Master’s degree in 2002, Tina has worked with the national association for students with disabilities, AHEAD, and has made a major contribution to its various programmes promoting the greater participation of students with disabilities in Irish higher education. Whilst the number of students with disabilities has risen dramatically in our Universities and Institutions of Technology in recent years, the graduates are not getting the jobs despite the Celtic Tiger, and it is in this area, as the Director of GET~AHEAD, the National Forum for Graduates with Disabilities, that Tina is making a major contribution. She has endless energy and enthusiasm and there is no section of the Irish employment market has escaped Tina’s overtures in assisting their employment in positions which match their educational background and abilities. It is not easy as it requires a sea change in Irish attitudes towards the employment of persons with disabilities, but Tina has a tenacity of purpose and a strong voice which knows no negatives. She has organized events right across the country , bringing together a mix from the business communities, from the disability organizations and of course the graduates themselves, in brain storming discussions on this difficult situation and establishing a range of employment initiatives which have been a great success.
But it should be appreciated that Tina’s interests extend beyond those of the disabled and in the Seanad, she will be a powerful advocate for all the marginalized sectors of our Irish society.
There can be no finer voice for the graduates of the National University than Tina Lowe and I recommend her to you without any qualification.
Dr. John Kelly
Professor Emeritus and former Registrar
University College Dublin.
Tina Lowe will make a great impact as your representative of the graduates of the National University of Ireland in Seanad Eireann and I urge all graduates to give her your support.
Since graduating with a Master’s degree in 2002, Tina has worked with the national association for students with disabilities, AHEAD, and has made a major contribution to its various programmes promoting the greater participation of students with disabilities in Irish higher education. Whilst the number of students with disabilities has risen dramatically in our Universities and Institutions of Technology in recent years, the graduates are not getting the jobs despite the Celtic Tiger, and it is in this area, as the Director of GET~AHEAD, the National Forum for Graduates with Disabilities, that Tina is making a major contribution. She has endless energy and enthusiasm and there is no section of the Irish employment market has escaped Tina’s overtures in assisting their employment in positions which match their educational background and abilities. It is not easy as it requires a sea change in Irish attitudes towards the employment of persons with disabilities, but Tina has a tenacity of purpose and a strong voice which knows no negatives. She has organized events right across the country , bringing together a mix from the business communities, from the disability organizations and of course the graduates themselves, in brain storming discussions on this difficult situation and establishing a range of employment initiatives which have been a great success.
But it should be appreciated that Tina’s interests extend beyond those of the disabled and in the Seanad, she will be a powerful advocate for all the marginalized sectors of our Irish society.
There can be no finer voice for the graduates of the National University than Tina Lowe and I recommend her to you without any qualification.
Dr. John Kelly
Professor Emeritus and former Registrar
University College Dublin.
Friday, April 13, 2007
My Senate Campain
Hi all,
Please see below, I'd be pleased to hear your comments.
Don't forget to keep chexking the website www.tinalowe.ie for other updates!
Best Wishes
Tina
VOTE TINA LOWE FOR NUI SENATE
Ireland is undergoing huge transformations in its cultural make-up, we are a much more diverse society and our constitution claims to embrace all our citizens and to cherish and treat them equally. However in reality this is still not the case!
Even though this transformation purports to includes a change in attitude towards people with disabilities this transformation is sporadic and on the surface.
The changes that have been put in place are also not standardised, so the result is a very ad-hoc approach to inclusion.
The traditional benevolence and charitable attitude still prevails when dealing with people with disabilities.
This is an infringement of human rights, an insult and a disgrace!
We do not want charity or benevolence we want equality and inclusion.
We want jobs.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How Disabilities affect 1 in 4 in Ireland
• 1 in 4 people with disabilities in Ireland are unemployed, with almost every family affected in some way.
• People with disabilities experience various forms of exclusion and inequality.
• In Ireland essential supports for people with disabilities have been denied by successive governments and expenditure on disability issues have remained disproportionately low in comparison to other sections of our economy.
• Stigma and discrimination still prevails
We need to change these facts NOW!
WHY WORK?
For people with disabilities it is essential to work for the following reasons:
• Our society is undergoing a transformation in its attitudes towards people with disabilities. There are more opportunities available; however oppression and discrimination still exist. By joining the workforce you are:
o Setting an example for other people with disabilities
o Showing non-disabled people what you and through you other people with disabilities can do
o By gaining employment people with disabilities can take a far greater part in the economy and in society as a whole.
--------------------------------------------------------
POLITICAL COMMENTATORS ON OUR CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION:
According to the Central Statistics Office the figures for unemployment in Ireland stand at 4.3%.
This figure does not allude in any way to people with disabilities, so people with disabilities are not even on the radar nor are they included in the mainstream population figures.
Why is this?
According to political commentators even though this figure may seem very small for those people who are unemployed it is a much bigger issue, because the gap between unemployment benefit and the cost of living is far greater than several years ago when unemployment was much higher, also in our Celtic Tiger economy housing costs, mortgage repayments are huge and so the commitments that people have are much bigger, consequently even a short period of unemployment can cause devastating affects.
Unemployment figures will rise because the newly created economies in construction, which have a high percentage of migrant workers in these jobs, is starting to slow down and this coupled with the very high cost of living in Ireland will contribute to a rise in unemployment.
If this happens will disabled people even get a look in? – they are not considered now in the booming economy – what will it be like when things start to slide?
--------------------------------------------------------
What are my policies and my vision when elected?
• My vision is to ensure government achieves substantive equality for people with disabilities.
• I will set an example for equal opportunities and will encourage the government to set up an office for people with disabilities which will be a model for public sector organisations.
• I will endeavour to ensure that the views of people with disabilities are heard and are the centre of policy making by reaching out to organisations and individuals at every step and by bringing external expertise and experience to this office for disabilities.
• I will endeavour to change and improve the way government communicates with people with disabilities and disability organisations in its day to day work.
• The Office for People with Disabilities will act as a research unit and will be a source of information and expertise on disability issues. It will provide support to government and will build awareness and public perception on disability issues.
Reasons for setting up an office for People with Disabilities with a dedicated Minister for Disabilities:
Already in Great Britain there is an Office for Disability Issues and a minister dedicated to overseeing this work.
It is true to say that we have an organisation in Ireland set up by the government called the National disability Authority, but I believe that in order to make real change we need to have this office in the government itself and to have a minister with this portfolio.
In the United Kingdom the present government has a ministry which is dedicated solely to people with disabilities. Ann Maguire is Parliamentary under-secretary in the Commons and is Minister for Disabled people and is a minister within the Department for Work and Pensions. Some of the areas that this Minister is responsible for include:
• Disability legislation
• Disability rights
• Independent living
This Office for Disability Issues (ODI) works closely with all government departments to develop and improve services for people with disabilities. In particular the ODI works directly with departments responsible for health, transport, education work and pensions, trade and industry and for communities and local government. As a central co-ordinating office the ODI ensure government departments work together on disability issues. The views and wishes people with disabilities are at the centre of any decision when developing policies for disabled people and this office supports any actions or directives taken by the government on disability issues.
For these reasons above and for the purpose of gaining much more recognition and for actually bringing disability issues to the attention of the government I believe that we need a similar set up in Ireland.
Please see below, I'd be pleased to hear your comments.
Don't forget to keep chexking the website www.tinalowe.ie for other updates!
Best Wishes
Tina
VOTE TINA LOWE FOR NUI SENATE
Ireland is undergoing huge transformations in its cultural make-up, we are a much more diverse society and our constitution claims to embrace all our citizens and to cherish and treat them equally. However in reality this is still not the case!
Even though this transformation purports to includes a change in attitude towards people with disabilities this transformation is sporadic and on the surface.
The changes that have been put in place are also not standardised, so the result is a very ad-hoc approach to inclusion.
The traditional benevolence and charitable attitude still prevails when dealing with people with disabilities.
This is an infringement of human rights, an insult and a disgrace!
We do not want charity or benevolence we want equality and inclusion.
We want jobs.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How Disabilities affect 1 in 4 in Ireland
• 1 in 4 people with disabilities in Ireland are unemployed, with almost every family affected in some way.
• People with disabilities experience various forms of exclusion and inequality.
• In Ireland essential supports for people with disabilities have been denied by successive governments and expenditure on disability issues have remained disproportionately low in comparison to other sections of our economy.
• Stigma and discrimination still prevails
We need to change these facts NOW!
WHY WORK?
For people with disabilities it is essential to work for the following reasons:
• Our society is undergoing a transformation in its attitudes towards people with disabilities. There are more opportunities available; however oppression and discrimination still exist. By joining the workforce you are:
o Setting an example for other people with disabilities
o Showing non-disabled people what you and through you other people with disabilities can do
o By gaining employment people with disabilities can take a far greater part in the economy and in society as a whole.
--------------------------------------------------------
POLITICAL COMMENTATORS ON OUR CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION:
According to the Central Statistics Office the figures for unemployment in Ireland stand at 4.3%.
This figure does not allude in any way to people with disabilities, so people with disabilities are not even on the radar nor are they included in the mainstream population figures.
Why is this?
According to political commentators even though this figure may seem very small for those people who are unemployed it is a much bigger issue, because the gap between unemployment benefit and the cost of living is far greater than several years ago when unemployment was much higher, also in our Celtic Tiger economy housing costs, mortgage repayments are huge and so the commitments that people have are much bigger, consequently even a short period of unemployment can cause devastating affects.
Unemployment figures will rise because the newly created economies in construction, which have a high percentage of migrant workers in these jobs, is starting to slow down and this coupled with the very high cost of living in Ireland will contribute to a rise in unemployment.
If this happens will disabled people even get a look in? – they are not considered now in the booming economy – what will it be like when things start to slide?
--------------------------------------------------------
What are my policies and my vision when elected?
• My vision is to ensure government achieves substantive equality for people with disabilities.
• I will set an example for equal opportunities and will encourage the government to set up an office for people with disabilities which will be a model for public sector organisations.
• I will endeavour to ensure that the views of people with disabilities are heard and are the centre of policy making by reaching out to organisations and individuals at every step and by bringing external expertise and experience to this office for disabilities.
• I will endeavour to change and improve the way government communicates with people with disabilities and disability organisations in its day to day work.
• The Office for People with Disabilities will act as a research unit and will be a source of information and expertise on disability issues. It will provide support to government and will build awareness and public perception on disability issues.
Reasons for setting up an office for People with Disabilities with a dedicated Minister for Disabilities:
Already in Great Britain there is an Office for Disability Issues and a minister dedicated to overseeing this work.
It is true to say that we have an organisation in Ireland set up by the government called the National disability Authority, but I believe that in order to make real change we need to have this office in the government itself and to have a minister with this portfolio.
In the United Kingdom the present government has a ministry which is dedicated solely to people with disabilities. Ann Maguire is Parliamentary under-secretary in the Commons and is Minister for Disabled people and is a minister within the Department for Work and Pensions. Some of the areas that this Minister is responsible for include:
• Disability legislation
• Disability rights
• Independent living
This Office for Disability Issues (ODI) works closely with all government departments to develop and improve services for people with disabilities. In particular the ODI works directly with departments responsible for health, transport, education work and pensions, trade and industry and for communities and local government. As a central co-ordinating office the ODI ensure government departments work together on disability issues. The views and wishes people with disabilities are at the centre of any decision when developing policies for disabled people and this office supports any actions or directives taken by the government on disability issues.
For these reasons above and for the purpose of gaining much more recognition and for actually bringing disability issues to the attention of the government I believe that we need a similar set up in Ireland.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Ryan Tubridy Show this week
Hello all
I was listening to the Ryan Tubridy Show this week and he did a feature on the unemployment rates in Ireland.
All the contributors to this slot seemed incredulous when they stated that the figure for unemployment in this country is 88,000 - the figure being 4.3% for people unemployed (1.3%) of this figure is for people who are longterm unemployed).
Ryan Tubridy continuously asked who are these people, where do they live and why are they not working?
One of the presenters stated that people with disabilities are not actually considered in this figure which I think is unbelievable, all contributors dismissed this section of our population stating that they are not considered because they do not ahve the ability to work!!!!!!!!
Not one person pulled them up on this, I sent numerous emails on this topic but they were not included in the disucssion.
I am amazed at this and can't believe that nobody form the NDA got on about this issue on air to debate this issue.
Your comments please.
I was listening to the Ryan Tubridy Show this week and he did a feature on the unemployment rates in Ireland.
All the contributors to this slot seemed incredulous when they stated that the figure for unemployment in this country is 88,000 - the figure being 4.3% for people unemployed (1.3%) of this figure is for people who are longterm unemployed).
Ryan Tubridy continuously asked who are these people, where do they live and why are they not working?
One of the presenters stated that people with disabilities are not actually considered in this figure which I think is unbelievable, all contributors dismissed this section of our population stating that they are not considered because they do not ahve the ability to work!!!!!!!!
Not one person pulled them up on this, I sent numerous emails on this topic but they were not included in the disucssion.
I am amazed at this and can't believe that nobody form the NDA got on about this issue on air to debate this issue.
Your comments please.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Primetime programme on thursday
Hello all
I was watching the Primetime programme on Tuesday this week about the difficulties with making immigrants legal, about their low wages, the black economy and the injust injust manner in which some employers are not making these workers legal and how they are not paying them properly.
This situation is increasing, more and more people are employed in the black economy in Ireland. some immigrants are very happy to get pay in this manner, to receive lower incomes than their Irish colleagues for the same work but it is extremely unfair and injust and will lead to more difficulties for the overall economy. This underlying situation in Ireland needs to be tackled properly now by the government. apart from form this, there are a huge number of job losses recently within the manufacturing industry, again, we are not addressing this properly witha set of policies to deal with this, we are not looking at how people need to be upskilled, need to be equipped with better skills, better training and training in knowledge-based industries as opposed to traditional manufacturing industries. These latest happenings are going to change the face of the Irish economy, they are going to place a greater divide between people who are doing very well and those who are struggling. These issues should be tackled now because we need to include immigrants, we need to establish a much better inclusive policy in our education systems, and in our employment sector and not alienate people more and more - this is what we are doing right now.
Your comments please?
I was watching the Primetime programme on Tuesday this week about the difficulties with making immigrants legal, about their low wages, the black economy and the injust injust manner in which some employers are not making these workers legal and how they are not paying them properly.
This situation is increasing, more and more people are employed in the black economy in Ireland. some immigrants are very happy to get pay in this manner, to receive lower incomes than their Irish colleagues for the same work but it is extremely unfair and injust and will lead to more difficulties for the overall economy. This underlying situation in Ireland needs to be tackled properly now by the government. apart from form this, there are a huge number of job losses recently within the manufacturing industry, again, we are not addressing this properly witha set of policies to deal with this, we are not looking at how people need to be upskilled, need to be equipped with better skills, better training and training in knowledge-based industries as opposed to traditional manufacturing industries. These latest happenings are going to change the face of the Irish economy, they are going to place a greater divide between people who are doing very well and those who are struggling. These issues should be tackled now because we need to include immigrants, we need to establish a much better inclusive policy in our education systems, and in our employment sector and not alienate people more and more - this is what we are doing right now.
Your comments please?
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