Guidance for Health and Safety in the Workplace

The Health and Safety Authority have published a very useful document guiding organisations about their responsibilities to workplace safety.

To view and download the full paper, please click here

• Posted:25 Aug 2008 at 04:35 pm

State Plans Merger of Five Bodies Instead of Just Three

The Irish Government is proposing to merge the Equality Tribunal and the National Disability Authority with three other equality and human rights agencies.

Official documentation confirms that there are plans to merge these two bodies, as well as the Equality Authority, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Office of Data Protection Commissioner, into a single agency.

For more information on this, check out this article that appears in the Irish Times

• Posted:22 Aug 2008 at 03:05 pm

59% Increase of Cases Brought to Equality Tribunal

The Equality Tribunal’s annual report published today shows a 65% increase in the number of cases of discrimination against those with a disability in accessing services compared to 2006. There were 89 cases brought to the tribunal on the grounds of discrimination in the workplace against those with a disability, an increase off 59% on the previous year.

To hear more about discrimation in relation to race, disability, gender and more, please click on the following audio Melanie Pine, Director of Equality Tribunal

• Posted:14 Aug 2008 at 11:04 am

DIALOGUE IN THE DARK: An Exhibition to Discover the Unseen

Check out this exhibition! The concept is simple, visitors are lead by blind guides in small groups through specially constructed darkened rooms, in which scents, sounds, wind, temperatures and textures conveys the characteristics of daily environments, for example a park, a city or a bar. In the dark, the daily routine becomes a new experience. A reversion of roles is created: sighted people are torn out of their familiar environments; blind people provide them with security and a sense of orientation transmitting a world without pictures.

“Dialogue in the Dark” has been touring throughout the world as a travelling exhibition for over 10 years, visiting 17 countries throughout Europe, Asia and America. In April 2000 “Dialogue in the Dark” opened as a permanent exhibition in Hamburg.  Check out their website for more information on their opening hours, tours etc.

Also checkout this short interview with the founder, Andreas Heinecke where he talks about  “Dialogue in the Dark” and gives out advice to budding social entrepreneurs.

• Posted:13 Aug 2008 at 12:09 pm

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimation Act Passed by Congress

Genetic information is invaluable. It provides a key to our make-up that we can use to proactively manage our health. However, the same information may also be misused and put us at rish for generic discrimination. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimation Act (GINA) was passed in the US and protects individuals from genetic discrimination by health insurers or employers. Find our more about GINA and what this act actually means for Joe Public.

• Posted:08 Aug 2008 at 02:46 pm

Social Edge

Social Edge is a program of the Skoll Foundation and was set up by socialentrepreneurs for social entrepreneurs. Every week they host two online discussions moderated by experts in the field. For blogs, podcasts and expert advice relating to social entrepreneurs check out this website.

• Posted:07 Aug 2008 at 12:08 pm

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

What is Ashoka?

Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs - men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Ashoka describes social entrepreneurs as ‘individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems’. Bill Drayton the Founder and CEO set up Ashoka in the early 1980’s. Drayton aims to find change making leaders around the world, provide them with support and watch as they transform ingrained institutions and improve lives exponentially.

Kanchi’s Founder and CEO, Caroline Casey, became the first Ashoka fellow from Ireland in 2006 for her pioneering work in the field of disability. If you want to find out more about Ashoka and its work check out the Ashoka website

• Posted:07 Aug 2008 at 11:50 am