cearta.ie – Page 179 – the Irish for rights

Today’s papers carry two stories with interesting freedom of expression angles. Both cases are in their initial stages, with more to come: one returns to the High Court today and the other to the Circuit Criminal Court on Monday week. It would not be much of an exaggeration to say that they have to capacity to test the health of freedom of expression and media rights in Ireland today, and it will be interesting to see how they develop.

These two skirmishes presage potential speech battles ahead.…

Thanks for the advice

11 January, 200719 January, 2007

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| Uncategorized

As a blogging neophyte, I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve my blog both for you (my reader, if there is one), and for me. So, I want to thank John Ryan for today’s entry on blogging tools and information.

I particular like the comment spam protector. …

Young Scientists and Visual Identification Evidence

11 January, 200713 January, 2007

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| Irish Society

I am, alas, neither young nor a scientist, but someone in the family is both, and we spent this evening at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS. Running since 1965, the exhibition is an annual competition for encouraging interest in science in Irish schools. This year’s exhibtion appealed hugely to the geek in me, as it always does. Media reports have focussed on the bebo projects featured in the photos, but there was far more to it than that: 500 competitors and whole host of supporting exhibitors, serving up a veritable feast for the eyes and mind.

I particuarly enjoyed a student web-radio station, a plagiarism detection tool, and two visual identification projects. …

Who Pays the Broadcasting Bill?

10 January, 200710 January, 2007

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| Media and Communications

The progress of the Broadcasting Bill, 2006 through the Houses of the Oireachtas (the houses of the Irish Parliament) is interesting for all sorts of reasons. It has – appropriately – been a guinea pig for several eGovernment initiatives, including an electronic consultation which drew more than 500 responses, and today’s hearings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources relating to the Bill are being webcast.

Unsurprisingly, then, there is much media interest in today’s hearings. …

So, farewell then, Norman French

10 January, 200727 September, 2009

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| Irish Law

The Taoiseach yesterday launched the Statute Law Revision Bill, 2007 in a speech in the beautiful surroundings of St Werburgh’s Church, Dublin 8, described by the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland as “a wonderful example of an early Georgian auditory church”. It was chosen by the Taoiseach for the announcement because, he said, it “is so closely connected with many of the historical events which led to … or arose from … the old laws we are now repealing”, though the fact that it made for a pretty photo-op can’t have hurt either.

There is much to be said in favour of this development, but the case must not be overstated. …

The Shape of Things to Come?

10 January, 200719 January, 2007

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| Universities

Hot on the heels of last week’s reports that Irish university heads are seeking pay increases of up to 55%, today’s New York Times reports that At Universities, Plum Post at Top Is Now Shaky. Many of the reforms undertaken in the Irish university sector have been controversial, but we have not yet reached the situation in the NYT report, where several university heads have been ousted. Is this the shape of things to come, if not in Ireland where the sector seems to be coming to terms with the reforms, then perhaps in England: in Oxford, just before Christmas, similar reform plans were defeated, though the Vice Chancellor remains in place, at least for now.…

Privacy Princess?

9 January, 200710 January, 2007

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| Privacy

The front page of today’s Times reports speculation that the royal family’s lawyers are preparing a privacy test case to prevent paparazzi harassment of Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton. No doubt, they have been emboldened by the decision of the Court of Appeal before Christmas that Prince Charles was entitled to assert that his private diaries about the handover of Hong Kong were confidential and protected by copyright. Of course, they will look at the full spectrum of available remedies, but the strategy most likely to be successful will be to build upon recent privacy decisions.

Last Saturday’s Irish Independent carries a story which gives a flavour of what this action is designed to prevent. …

Because theyâ€™re worth it, again

8 January, 200719 January, 2007

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| Universities

Three pieces in today’s Irish Times relate to the state of higher education in Ireland today. Superficially, they all seem positive: the government is giving the sector more money; a consultant sets out a vision for the sector’s future; and the South East calls for a university. In other words, the univerities, their heads, and the South East, are all asking for something on the grounds that they are worth it.

Look more closely, however, and the three stories betray a malaise at the heart of Irish higher education. …