"RED Talks"

In this episode, author and People Before Profit County Councillor Madeleine Johansson joins Barbara to talk about her new book which details, in every day language, the history and origins of the welfare state in Sweden and its demise. The book is a great reference for any worker who wants to understand how the welfare state is destroyed by neoliberals and the destructive nature of capitalism. It serves as a warning to every Irish worker when it comes to the idea of left government and the very real challenges of reform or rupture concepts under a system that's beyond repair! The book is available to purchase at Red Network's online store, or from the Rebel Telly crew by DMing them. There is also a book launch on Friday 2nd December at 6pm in The Teachers Club on Parnell Square in Dublin city. A later date for launches in Waterford and Cork are also planned and details will be published on all Rebel Telly social media platforms once confirmed.

Renters in 35 flats in Tathony House in Dublin 8 received eviction notices. Around 100 people, families with children and workers all being thrown out of their homes by a landlord who doesn't have a care in the world and wants to contribute to a serious housing and homelessness crisis. Barbara speaks with two of the tenants of Tathony House, Madeleine Johansson and James O'Toole. Madeleine is a People Before Profit Councillor on South Dublin County Council and James is a Socialist activist. Along with their fellow tenants, they have organised themselves to fight this appalling situation. They have already held a very well attended protest outside the council offices and are planning more action on November 7th outside City Hall on Dame Street in Dublin city. In this episode, they discuss the situation and the awful system that allows this kind of thing to happen in the first place.

In this episode, Barbara chats with Colm Flood who is after completing his first year as a student nurse and he shares his experiences, his views and his thoughts on the future for people in his shoes who are left undervalued by the government and the very system that is supposed to be there to support them and deliver for the sector, the public and most importantly, patients.

In this episode, Barbara talks to the Cost Of Living Coalition coordinator Eddie Conlon and People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett about the upcoming major protest on 24th September in Dublin and on 17th September in Cork. People Power is once again rising like it did over the attempt to bring in water charges in 2014 and 2015. This coalition includes unions, retired people's groups, disability campaigning groups, political parties like Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and The Social Democrats as well as other left groups, elected reps and parties as well as MICA campaigners and many more, growing every day.

This week People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy joins Barbara to discuss the massive rise in the cost of living, the causes, the potential solutions, the inaction by government and the massive protest that the recently formed Cost of Living Coalition of Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Spark, various trade union branches, student union groups, retired people's groups and many others have united to organise nationally for people powered revolt and to demand action on the spiralling cost of living crisis that is impacting everybody. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

Friday 22nd April marks the launch of a new and important book that all workers should read and keep among their arsenal as we face into massive inflationary times, rising energy costs and a culture among today's union leaderships to capitulate rather than revolt. James is a Socialist activist and an author. In a personal capacity, he is also a shop steward in the union SIPTU. With many years of experience campaigning for better conditions for workers and fighting in solidarity with strikers, James brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and keen observation to the topic of class war and trade unionism. The book is available for purchase from the e-Store section of www.rednetwork.ie

This week Barbara is joined by Abduliziz who is a Saudi activist highlighting the ongoing war in Yemen by Saudi Arabia with backing from the USA. In this episode, you can hear details of the awful atrocities being inflicted on Yemeni people by a monarchy with no regard for the value of human life. Much of the current mainstream media is currently taken up with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the horrors being visited on the people of Ukraine. The people of Yemen have been bombed into famine and suffered incredible numbers of innocent death, including thousands of children, for SEVEN YEARS now and it continues to this day. On March 26th, the Irish Anti-War movement is holding a protest. It begins at 1pm at the Spire on O'Connell Street and will march from there to the Saudi Embassy. As many people as possible will be pulling specially commissioned body bags to represent and highlight the incredible death toll of this awful war. Join them if you can and please share the podcast episode to generate awareness and express solidarity.

In Ireland we have a unique voting system called PR-STV. Only Malta and Ireland use this system and it seems quite simple until you understand the method used to count the votes. The phrase "vote in order of your preference" is trotted out by mainstream media and mainstream political parties, but it's actually not quite that simple. This week Barbara teases out the way the count works and why that is such a significant factor in how we should all consider the way that we complete our ballot papers. In many countries, voting results are available just a few hours after the polling stations close but in Ireland it's often days and sometimes weeks before final results are known and that's all down to the unique way that votes are counted, distributed and transferred in our complicated count process. Barbara is joined by Anne Wall and David Smyth. Anne is a retired civil servant who has worked at many count centres as part of her job. David is a Socialist activist and former elections campaign manager in several local and national elections. This episode reveals some of the interesting aspects of this count process and relates them to how you, as a voter, can use your ballot paper in ways that you might not have realised. Enjoy!

This week, Barbara is joined by Sammy and Orlagh Wheelock as their family continues their almost 17 year long campaign for an independent enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of their brother Terence at the hands of Gardaí. The family have been campaigning tirelessly for so long and in this podcast episode they outline their experience and their upcoming public protest which we encourage everybody to support, share, attend and follow. in 2005, Terence was taken into custody on suspicion of interfering with a car, but he was later found in a Garda station cell with extensive injuries. He was brought to hospital and ended up in a coma. Terence later died in hospital and many questions remain unanswered despite a coroner's court inquest. The family are seeking an independent enquiry to establish the facts and bring long overdue justice. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week, Barbara is joined by "A day in my wheels" activist Sean O'Kelly and disability rights campaigner Bernard Mulvaney who is part of the Access for All campaign. Bernard is also a political activist with People Before Profit. Bernard is a full-time carer for his daughter who is living with Spina bifida, while Sean is himself living with Spina bifida and actively campaigning for equality for all those living with any disability. From housing to healthcare and public transport, many things that you may never have thought of are teased out and discussed in this episode. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week, Barbara is joined by security worker Francis O'Reilly. Francis talks about pay and conditions for those working in the security sector and about the recently launched campaign Respect for Security Guards and Officers which aims to bring those working in the sector together to campaign for better conditions and pay.

This week Barbara is joined by Adrian McKenna who is an adoptee born in St. Patrick's Mother & Baby Home on the North Circular Road in Dublin in 1965. Adrian tells his story and talks openly about the redress scheme, a scheme he is excluded from, and the commissions report as well as his own personal life experience. Adrian works in social care today and has studied many aspects of this broad and often underfunded and underappreciated sector.

After a short break, Barbara is back and this episode is all about housing again! Government has announced their latest stunt when it comes to the seemingly never ending housing and homelessness crises that Fianna Fáíl and Fine Gael deliberately orchestrated over many decades. They are calling it "Housing for all" but, as Barbara highlights, it's anything but!! Of the 26 counties, 12 are to be excluded entirely from the "scheme" and this makes the word ALL meaningless. Barbara is joined by Independent county councillor Gerry Warnock from Longford. Successive FF/FG led governments have taken the loyalty of counties like Longford for granted over the decades and here we are again where a so called plan to tackle housing manages to leave Longford and 11 other counties out of the room. Listen and share, as this is a really important failure of government to take rural Ireland seriously. "The devil is in the detail"... This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

We open series two with a focus on the housing crisis. This week Barbara is joined by Martin Collins who is co-director of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre. This is the first in our series focusing on the housing and homelessness crises that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have deliberately manufactured over several decades. Each week we will have guests telling their story and highlighting their plight. From renters being forced from their homes to young people locked out of the property market and the private rental sector, as well as public housing maintenance issues and failures of local authorities to properly maintain existing housing or build new homes. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

In this episode, Barbara is joined by James O'Toole and they discuss the topics covered to date in series one of our podcast series that takes a look at issues in Ireland from a Socialist perspective. We're taking a short break and will be back with series 2 starting on Sunday 8th August. Series 2 will focus on the ongoing housing and homelessness crises with each podcast focusing on a specific aspect of this ever worsening situation that impacts the lives of so many families and young people. We are also focusing on the upcoming NHHC Rally on 15th September at 5:30pm outside Dáil Éireann. This is being organised as a mass demo by The National Homeless and Housing Coalition. So join us again each Sunday from 8th August and we hope that you enjoyed series one. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

We thought about doing a podcast with all of the candidates seeking to replace Eoghan Murphy from Fine Gael as a TD for Dublin Bay South, but then we decided that there wasn't much point as it's a mix of establishment goons, establishment wannabes and some bizarre individuals who don't understand reality. One candidate stood out and is standing for all of the correct reasons. She is a worker, a renter and a young woman. Her name is Brigid Purcell and she's a campaigner, a Socialist, a fighter and a true representative of the forgotten generation that establishment Ireland has worked so hard to create. In this podcast, Brigid joins our host Barbara Smyth to outline her reasons for running, her experiences as a young woman in today's Ireland and what she offers to bring to Dáil Éireann if elected. As the only proper Socialist on the ballot paper, we at "Red Talks" are endorsing Brigid, who is the People Before Profit candidate. If you want to see Brigid join the other Socialist TD's in our Oireachtas, please give her your number ONE vote on 8th July. Brigid won't get transfers from the establishment parties, so if you think you'd like to see her represent you and you have a vote in the constituency, or if you know someone that does, please give her your No.1 PURCELL Brigid (Solidarity/PBP) is how she will appear on your ballot paper. Make you vote count - vote No.1 for the only Socialist seeking election in Dublin Bay South this Thursday! This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week we are joined by Orla Murphy who was arrested for spray painting The Department of Foreign Affairs building in March 2021. Orla was just 19 at the time and in this podcast she shares her experience at the hands of establishment Ireland with Red Talks host Barbara Smyth. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week Barbara Smyth is talking with representatives from a newly formed campaign group called Loved ones lost - Memory stone memorial. Fidelma Mansfield, Carrie Haskins and Trish Mc Nally, all of whom lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic join Barbara to share their personal stories and experiences of coping during such a difficult time with restrictions preventing visits and how this impacted them as families. Their campaign grew from a support group that was established to help fellow families all over Ireland, and beyond, to share and talk about their experiences, their grief and to remember their loved ones who passed away. They are seeking to have an official public place in every county where people can remember their loved one. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week we are joined by Darragh Adelaide, a Socialist activist and anti-racism campaigner. Host Barbara Smyth and Darragh discuss the origins of racism and specific examples of how and why it's an unfortunate feature in Irish society. From political policing, Traveller discrimination, cover-ups, outright racism and the very different way "certain" campaigns are treated by establishment Ireland based on class, race and political flavour. It's all teased out in this episode. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

Solas, the state agency that is responsible for training in the workplace, are gouging workers by charging massive fees for the Safe Pass that all construction workers are required to have. A high court ruling said that this card should be renewed every 5 years at a cost of €32. But, Solas are making workers resit the whole course (which does not change) every four years and pay several hundred Euro's for the privilege. "Building Workers Know Your Rights" campaigners Gus MacDonald and Andrew Keegan join Red Talks host Barbara Smyth to discus this outrageous situation and system that costs workers by making them take a day off, without pay, and travel to a training course that they have to pay for themselves in order to renew a Safe Pass that they already have. The Solas procedure is in defiance of the high court ruling. And, there's more. Listen to this episode in conjunction with episode 5 in this series, because bogus self employment is a massive problem in the construction industry. It's touched on in this podcast, but our last episode was an exposé on it with Whistle-blower Martin McMahon! This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week we are joined by Martin McMahon who has spent over two decades exposing this trend that not only allows employers to avoid tax liabilities for workers, but is an aspect of a sick "Status Quo" that both Revenue and Social Welfare have colluded to sustain despite how damaging it is to both the individuals concerned and the economy of our county. Martin has written a book on this, which is available here, and he recently appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in government buildings to expose the reality of this awful situation that hurts workers, while allowing scrupulous businesses to avoid liability and responsibility to those same workers. Martin reveals to Barbara that this could be solved overnight, but the vested interests involved just don't want to address it, tackle it or remedy it. Workers suffer, while corporations profit. It's how Ireland works and it's WRONG! Listen in and please share, thank you. This is a "Red Talks" podcast series, produced by the Red Network which is an integral part of People Before Profit.

This week we are joined by Éamonn Ó Catháin and Madeleine Johansson to discuss the reality of the recent talk of a border poll and what a 32 county Socialist Ireland could look like. Who's actually discussing this and why? What is it like to live in Northern Ireland under partition and where are we really going with the discussion about reunification? Barbara Smyth teases it all out with Éamonn who lives in Belfast but has personal and business ties to the Republic and Socialist councillor Madeleine who represents People Before Profit on Dublin county council. It's not as simple as some in the media and various political movements with vested interests would have you think! Another Red Network podcast that asks the questions you really need to know the answers to. Tune in for all the details...

This week we are joined by Gino Kenny TD as well as Socialist activist Tom Hendy and his son Ivan to discuss the case for legalising drug use and the experiences of one family where drug addiction and the prison system failed them hugely.

This week Barbara Smyth is joined by Jane Crowe, a Union shop steward, Carmel Redmond, a Union committee member and Manuelle, a People Before Profit Activist, to discuss the dispute that these brave workers have been in for over a year now and some never before revealed details are outlines as well as a candid discussion of this protest that will benefit all workers going forward if the bill proposed by Solidarity/People Before Profit on Wednesday 12th May 2021 is adopted by government. This is one we'd ask you to share widely, thank you.

in the first of our series of RED Network podcasts, Barbara Smyth is joined by author James O'Toole to discuss his most recent book The Irish State and Revolution which was published in April 2021. Socialist activist Margaret O'Regan also joins Barbara to talk about the struggle for access to contraception in 1970's Ireland and the role played by Margaret and others in this amazing challenge to the church and establishment Ireland. We hope you enjoy this episode and continue to listen to our future episodes of RED Talks.