One Family - Ireland » Media

Minister Burton responds to Ciara Conway TD re One Family queries

comms — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:24:18 +0000

Ciara Conway T.D. has kindly given us permission to share the following information. Following our meeting with Ciara and our two page budget analysis, she raised several issues about the budget cuts with Minister Burton. Minister Burton’s letter of response is enclosed here and this is One Family Director Karen Kiernan’s response to Ciara Conway:

Dear Ciara,

Many thanks for corresponding with Minister Burton on our behalf. Whilst the letter provides factual information and some of it is drawn from the letter that will shortly go to parents in relation to the One-Parent Family Payment unfortunately it is still not clear what the Department’s strategy is in this area, what policy and research this was based on and how they will ameliorate the poor education levels of parents, the lack of employment and the absolute dearth of afterschool care.

Regrettably it has become clear to me that these cuts were made without reference to policy or research but were simply a means of cutting the budget without touching the principal rates of social welfare payments. What is even more unfortunate is that so many of these cuts have fallen on the shoulders of the poorest families and children in Ireland. One Family and our members will continue to speak and advocate on these issues and we appreciate your assistance to date and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Best wishes, Karen

Update on our campaign to reverse budget cuts

comms — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:12:46 +0000

Here is any update on what we’ve been doing – we have lobbied every TD and senator by phone or email and have managed to get meetings with Labour and FG politicians today to try and get changes to the proposed cuts. Senators are also raising questions for us today. We have also emailed thousands of supporters and other organisations asking for support to reverse some of the cuts. We are constantly in touch with Dept of Social Protection seeking clarification on dates and phasing in times. We can respond to any individual queries if anyone wants to call our helpline 1890622122. One Family is joining a protest tomorrow being organised by a group of enterprising lone parents and we encourage everyone to join us to show your support. 2-5pm outside the Dail Friday 9 Dec http://www.facebook.com/OneFamilyIreland#!/events/129422247170088/

European Parliament adopts a report on the Situation of Single Mothers

comms — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:35:40 +0000

On 25 October the European Parliament approved an own initiative report on the situation of single mothers, to which Eurochild contributed together with its member organisation One Family. The report outlines that in 2001 85% of single parents were women aged 25-65 and that these women are statistically less educated than married counterparts, face higher level of unemployed, are underpaid, as well as suffer bad health and increased level of stress due to their fragile situation. The issue is particularly important not only because a number of single parent households in Europe is constantly increasing, but also because they are almost three times more likely to be at risk of poverty and social exclusion than couples with children.

The own-initiative report calls on the EU Member Stated to support single mothers, by introducing, among others, “tax breaks and incentives to companies that provide training and on-site day care and nursery facilities”, providing education, training and housing support. Moreover, the report underlines the importance of quality, affordable childcare services, as well as necessity of a greater involvement of fathers.

During a discussion prior to the vote of the report, the rapporteur Barbara Matera (EPP, IT) said that “The report is full of excellent initiatives and new objectives that the EU should set itself, because this will become a central issue and one of Europe’s priorities, considering that the number of single mothers is growing”.

To read the full report click here. A summary of the debate you can find here.

Please vote for One Family video

comms — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:49:28 +0000

We need your votes every day please between now and 11 November for a short video about Family Day which we have submitted for the Better Together Awards. If we get enough votes the video will go into the top ten and could win €3000 for One Family.

All you need to do is click this link http://bit.ly/pHtQQP and then choose the 5 star option ‘awesome’ each day. Every vote helps to support the work we do here for people who parent alone and share parenting and for our campaign to raise awareness of family diversity in Ireland. Thank you in advance!

Lots of media this week about one-parent families and One Family

comms — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:54:13 +0000

Jamelia has made a wonderful documentary on Single Mums showing on BBC3, for air times see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0140p9n. Our Director Karen Kiernan has been speaking about social welfare fraud and lone parents on TV3’s Ireland AM at http://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am.php?video=39558&locID=1.65.74 in response to a very poor article in the Irish Daily Mail on the issue on Tuesday. Finally One Family was mentioned in the Irish Times where advice was being given to a separated woman who wants to get back to work, see more at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0831/1224303229511.html

For all this information and more follow us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OneFamilyIreland

Interesting Irish Times piece on one-parent families

comms — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:58:06 +0000

Interesting piece by Ann Marie Hourihane in today’s Irish Times – about how single mothers seem to have been unfairly scapegoated as being in some way ‘responsible’ for the London riots see http://bit.ly/ogcar8

One Family on Zozzy TV

comms — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:49:31 +0000

Thanks to the good people at Zozzy TV, our video ‘One Family Stories’ is now being shown on the huge screen at the top of Dublin’s Grafton Street. It helps spread the word about the need for acceptance of and support for one-parent families. Thanks very much Zozzy. You can see the video here

US Cultural Ambassador gives talk at One Family, 6 May

comms — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:59:35 +0000

In association with the United States Embassy Dublin, One Family welcomes US Cultural Ambassador and award-winning writer Dr Brenda Flanagan to Cherish House, Dublin 2. Please join us on Friday 6 May from 10am until 12 noon to hear Dr Brenda Flanagan speak on Accomplishing your Goals as a Single Parent. Known for her inspiring talks and her performance abilities, Brenda will weave in her experiences as a writer, so anyone with an interest in writing should attend. Places are limited so early booking is vital. Please email to Stuart at sduffin@onefamily.ie or info@onefamily.ie to book your place for this free event. For details see http://bit.ly/jA9zE8

Tune In: ‘My Dad’ on RTÉ Radio 1 19 March

rachel — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:10:55 +0000

Tune into ‘My Dad’ on RTÉ radio 1 – this documentary lays bare the realities of single fatherhood, introducing three single or separated Dad’s as they tell us about their circumstances and how their role as parents has changed their lives.

RTÉ One Radio 19 March at 2 pm, repeated Sunday 20 March at 7.02pm. Available online at www.rte.ie/doconone

One Family Director gives talk on charity mergers, 2 March

rachel — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:36:24 +0000

Karen Kiernan, One Family’s Director, will be giving a talk about collaborations and mergers at a WINSENT (Wales Ireland Network for Social Entrepreneurship) Networking Event at 6.30pm on Wednesday 2 March at Boston College, 42 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2. For Further information see www.winsent.eu