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Explainer: What’s happening with electricity pylons and why is it such a big issue?

Heard a lot about pylons in recent weeks, but not sure what it’s all about. Here’s Eirgrid’s projects explained.

UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN living under a rock over the last number of weeks, you will not have missed the heated debates about Eirgrid’s plans to build electricity pylons in Ireland.

The momentum of groups protesting against the construction of large pylons has escalated in recent weeks, with government ministers rallying behind the plans stating they are the best option.

So, what has all the fuss been about? If you haven’t been keeping up with this story, here it is explained:

I’ve heard people talking about pylons but what Eirgrid projects are they referring to and where are they being built?

EirGrid is implementing a €3.2 billion investment programme called Grid25 under which it aims to develop and upgrade the electricity transmission network.

Grid25 involves extensive work throughout the country, which includes building 800 kilometres of new power lines and upgrading 2,000 kilometres of existing lines – doubling the size of the electricity grid.

The controversy about pylons surrounds three of Eirgrid’s main projects. These are located in different areas of the country. The three projects are:

The Grid West project: The Grid West project is the largest Grid25 project in the west costing €240 million. It consists of a new high capacity power line linking the North Mayo area to a strong point on the transmission grid at Flagford, County Roscommon.

The chosen 1 kilometre wide corridor, starts north west of Moygownagh, runs west of Ballina, east of Foxford and Swinford, south of Charlestown and Ballaghaderreen before linking into the existing Flagford substation, near Carrick-on-Shannon.

image

(Via Eirgrid) Can’t see it, click here.

North South 400 kV Interconnection Development: EirGrid and NIE Northern Ireland Electricity are jointly proposing a new high capacity electricity interconnector between the electricity networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

image

(Via Eirgrid) Can’t view click here.

The Grid Link Project: The Grid Link Project is an estimated €500 million investment in the national electricity grid linking Leinster and Munster. The project consists of a new high voltage overhead power line linking Knockraha in Co. Cork to Great Island in Co. Wexford to Dunstown, near Kilcullen, in Co. Kildare.

In 2014, EirGrid will try and identify a route for the Grid Link Project from the corridor. Substation sites at Knockraha, Co. Cork, Great Island, Co. Wexford and Dunstown, Co. Kildare will also be identified. EirGrid does not expect to submit an application to An Bord Pleanála for planning approval for the route before 2016.

Eirgrid’s official deadline for feedback on the €500 million scheme was Tuesday 7 January, however they confirmed it’s still accepting submissions on project, eleven days after the publicised deadline.

image

(Via Eirgrid) Can’t view click here.

Why is Eirgrid saying we need these?

Eirgrid says the project will put in place a safe, secure and affordable electricity supply throughout Ireland and will help meet our renewable energy targets. Here are their specific reasons for each project.

The North South connector is being built to increase the capacity and the reliability of interconnection between the two networks, says Eirgrid.

They state that the allowing the two independent networks to operate together as if they were one system will be of mutual benefit to residents and businesses in both jurisdictions and will eliminate current restrictions in cross border support in the event of a shortage of electricity in one jurisdiction, thus enhancing the security of electricity supply throughout the island of Ireland. They also state it will bring significant cost savings.

Eirgrid states that the Grid West project is needed as the existing transmission infrastructure in the region needs substantial investment to accommodate the west’s increasing levels of renewable generation and that Ireland’s renewable energy target is to meet 40 per cent of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020, which this project, they state, will help to achieve.

Grid Link Project is “a vital development” for the region, says Eirgrid and will deliver a wide range of benefits including securing the future electricity supply for Leinster and Munster, providing a platform for job creation in the south and east of Ireland, enabling Ireland meet its 40 per cent renewable electricity target as well as facilitating possible electricity links with either Britain or France.

So, do we need them or not?

It depends which side you are on.

Here’s what the politicians’ are saying:

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has recently rowed back the Government’s plans for pylons stating he is receiving contrasting advice from experts, but that he will set out his position soon. During his trade mission to the Gulf region, Mr Kenny defended the Government’s approach to pylons.

Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte siad there has to be a “trade off between the comforts of modern civilization and some element of intrusion”.

Meanwhile, Ireland South MEP Phil Prendergast, who has actively campaigned to have the building of pylons halted, described the construction of pylons the “rape” of rural Ireland, calling on the EU Commission to fully investigate the health risks on humans and animals of high voltage overhead power lines such as those proposed by Eirgrid.

A letter from the Minister for Health James Reilly was in the public domain recently, which raised concerns about electro-magnetic fields in his constituency, with Labour Senator Denis Landy stating that this should be concerning “to all citizens”.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton:

It goes without saying that regions linked to a modern power network would find it easier to attract investment from big companies.

What about other groups? What do they think?

Well, the new chairman of Eirgrid John O’Connor didn’t instil optimism in people when he appeared in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications in which he admitted that he personally would not like to live beside an electricity pylon.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, director of Engineers Ireland John Power said that companies looking to invest in Ireland could be discouraged if the electricity grid was not able to handle future demand, adding:

Put simply, a strong infrastructure is the foundation for economic prosperity.

Meanwhile Fáilte Ireland undertook a study to see what impact the project will have on tourism. They stated that it was a “sensitive development” and that Ireland is fortunate to have three core assets – it’s natural heritage, its built heritage and its cultural heritage.

Their report concluded that the “significance of landscape and visual factors, have been underestimated” in the Eirgrid Stage 1 Route Grid Link project, adding that it is their view that tourism factors have been “insufficiently developed in the analysis by Eirgrid.

Dermot Byrne, retired Chief Executive of Eirgrid explains why he thinks the Grid25 projects, stating there biggest challenge is public acceptance issue:

(YouTube/EngineersIreland)

Why are the people who live near the proposed pylons angry and worried?

People who live in areas where the pylons are to be built are concerned for a number of reasons.

Those living in affected areas have voiced their concern about potential impacts on the environment, their health and property prices, with demonstrations against the building of pylons now gaining force and protest groups established all over the country.

Up and down the country anti-pylon groups are protesting against Eirgrid’s plans. The Kilmovee group in County Mayo, states that they are “ordinary people” that are fighting against the “imposition of a 400Kv power line and pylons through the heart of our community posing increased health risks and irreparably damaging our environment, heritage and livelihoods”.

image

(Wexford Eirgrid Action Group Facebook Page)

Protests against Eirgrid’s plans are escalating with more than 50 pylon protesters staging a sit-in at the EirGrid information offices in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon on Wednesday night lasting for over two-and-a-half hours.

image

Protesters outside the offices in n Ballaghaderreen. (Kilmovee Against Pylons Facebook)

While the group, RethinkPylons a not for profit organisation run by volunteers against pylons states that Eirgrid will build 45 metre high pylons, which could be 50 metres from someone’s home.

Others have concerns that the projects are not to do with improving Ireland’s infrastructure and is more about exporting energy abroad, for profit.

Anti-pylon groups are so exercised about the issue that they are considering running in the local elections, with the controversial plans tipped to be a very important issue in the run up the elections.

What do I do if I am unhappy they are being built near me?

EirGrid has developed a Project Development and Consultation Roadmap to help people understand the process for developing a new transmission line and the opportunities for consultation as a project is brought to planning approval.

Typically there are four rounds of public consultation under which people can make submissions and provide feedback to EirGrid prior to the submission of a planning application to An Bord Pleanála.

Once an application is submitted, a formal period of statutory consultation begins under which people can make submissions direct to An Bord Pleanála.

Here are some links to where you can find further information and submission instructions.

Are they safe?

Eirgird state: “We recognise that this is an issue some people raise.  No, we do not feel people need to be concerned. The Irish electricity transmission system is safe and operated well within national and international guidelines and does not pose a health risk to anyone. We publish a lot of information on this subject.” Eirgrid’s study on electro-magnetic fields can be viewed here.

On the opposing side, some politicians have said they are concerned about the health risks. MEP Marion Harkin said she supported the undergrounding of cables because the European Commission had suggested a link between overhead power lines and childhood leukaemia was “valid” while MEP Phil Prendergast is urging the European Commission to fully investigate the health risks.

Why not put the electricity cables underground?

This is the nuts and bolts of the issue. While many groups acknowledge that the system needs improving and upgrading, their issue is that electricity pylons that they say will tower over their houses, ruin the landscape and de-value their homes are not the way to go.

They are arguing that underground electricity cables should be installed instead of 5o metre high pylons.

Sounds like a simple enough solution – everyone’s happy then, right? Wrong.

The Government argue that the experts have advised that if they go down the road of installing underground cables instead of overhead pylons, then the customer can expect to pay at least 3 per cent on their electricity bills for the next 50 years to pay for it.

He admitted that underground cables are “feasible” but that the extra cost will go “onto the bills of you and I and every other domestic customer”.

He said that the Energy Regulator has investigated what the additional cost will be and said they calculated that over all three legs of the Eirgrid programme it would cost an additional €2 billion and would add 3 per cent to consumer electricity bills over the next 50 years.

Eirgrid told TheJournal.ie that “in common with every other country in Europe, Ireland has an Alternating Current (AC) electricity transmission system, the vast majority of which is overhead line.

The said that in order to put the 400kV projects underground, they would have to be installed using a different technology, Direct Current (DC), as there are technical issues with putting 400kV AC lines underground over long distances.

Eirgird said installing long lines of high-voltage DC cables on to the Irish transmission system would be “extremely challenging” adding that sophisticated equipment is required to convert the power from AC to DC and back again so that it is compatible with the grid. “There would also be operational complexities,” said a spokesperson for Eirgrid.

Underground is also more expensive, they added.

So, the short answer is – the Government and Eirgird state that underground cables are too expensive and difficult to install, while residents think the cost to them, their livlihoods, tourism and their homes will be equally as damaging.

How much is this all going to cost?

The estimates are:

  • The North South 400kV Interconnection Development is expected to cost €280 million
  • The Grid Link Project €500 million
  • Grid West Project €240 million

When will they be completed?

EirGrid expects to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the North South 400kV Interconnection Development early this year. If the application is successful, it is expected that the project will be completed by the end of 2017.

The Grid West Project will submit a planning application in 2015 and it is expected that the project will be built by 2019.

The Grid Link Project will submit a planning application in 2016 and it is expected that the project will be built by 2020.

Column: The people should have a say in planning Ireland’s energy grid>

Read: Engineers say EirGrid project will be ‘key to economic prosperity’>

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52 Comments
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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:23 AM

    “Nuns! Reverse reverse reverse”

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    Mute winding_down
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:52 AM

    As she says herself, the Nun “was concerned about [what] the complainant would do with children whose parents did not want them to take religion classes”.

    Is the implication here that the candidate was to ignore the wishes of the parents entirely, because religious education shoudn’t have an opt-out? Astonishing.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jan 19th 2015, 12:58 PM

    Should we all be Homo sapiens now Sister?

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:32 AM

    Another good reason why church control of schools must end. They have divested 1 in around 3 years!

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    Mute Andrew Dagg
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:25 AM

    And that one was a church of Ireland school!

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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Jan 19th 2015, 12:02 PM

    And why are there phoney boards running the recruitment and not the DOE . Major changes are required .

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    Mute Adrian Hennessy
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:01 PM

    ….because, like every other system and process in this country, central government do not want the responsibility which would make the liable in any court case…… imagine what this person would have been awarded if it was the state that was found to be discriminatory

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:10 PM

    Good point Adrian. She got what she deserved, no more no less. It’s up to the parents to put pressure on the schools. When you make the state run it you disempower the parents. Look at the USA. Parents have no control whatsoever. They don’t even get to choose which public school they go to in a lot of states.

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    Mute Shane Hogan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 11:23 PM

    Actually, primary school Boards have no control over recruitment, thanks to Dept Ed regulations. Recruitment is controlled by the Patron – usually the local Bishop for catholic schools

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:36 AM

    “Saying that the person who was offered the job was considerably younger and less experienced”
    Surely that’s discrimination in itself??

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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Jan 19th 2015, 7:21 PM

    Exactly. More experience doesn’t mean you’re better.

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:12 PM

    That was just one statement in what was probably a very long case. If there was a good reason to skip over the more experienced one they probably would have given it in evidence.

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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:38 AM

    The most homophobic people out there, are generally, closet homosexuals themselves. That nun probably plays the banjo while watching Ellen de Generes in her room.

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    Mute Paul Flynn
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:44 AM

    True, when I hear priests on the tv my gaydar goes mental, they’re ashamed of themselves for being gay, sad situation really.

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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Ye the most anti semite people are usually closet jews.

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    Mute Paul Flynn
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:07 AM

    Most people that call other people anti-semitic claim to be pro free speech but are actually anti free speech and also need to look up the term semite. You know nothing jon snow.

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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Jan 19th 2015, 12:28 PM

    Lord Flynn. It was a joke, I was been jovial.. Enjoy it

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    Mute Ian Phillip Creaner
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    Jan 19th 2015, 12:34 PM

    Oy gevalt. You outed me!

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:38 PM

    Communist and hard left Jews can be anti-Semitic.

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    Mute Fozzy Dunlop
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:32 AM

    In fairness, I think the lady in question had a lucky escape not getting the position if the interview process was anything to go by

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:53 AM

    She was already working in the school though. Humiliating to have someone less qualified put in above you.

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    Mute Cathy Hunt-Tyrrell
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:36 AM

    If the person was better, smarter, more capable, they SHOULD have been put in above her.
    Sure look at the numbskulls in Govt, they mistake corruption for being smart and they’re above us in power and wealth. But they have more EXPERIENCE than us in the Dail. Yet a kindergarten child would run the country better.

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:08 PM

    Schools are not the same as government. If she was manifestly incompetent then the nuns would have argued that. Since the court couldn’t find any good reason not to give her the job they went with the most likely option.

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    Mute Tordelback
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:28 AM

    Wonderful transcription typo there: ‘…accommodating children of different faiths and nuns’.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Yeah, that was my fault. Quite the typo! It’s been fixed now.

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    Mute David Evans
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:55 AM

    I’m sure you pursued the appropriate avenues Tordelback, by sending a “Send a correction” to the author also?

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    Mute Tordelback
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:24 AM

    Not at all, I thought it was way too good to miss!

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    Mute Ron North
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    Jan 19th 2015, 6:23 PM

    Change it back, change it back.

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    Mute Jack Nolan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:52 AM

    Why does the church have anything to do with educating our children!!

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:39 PM

    Jack, spot on, they’re just a bunch of Homos :)

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:16 PM

    “Our”? It’s up to you where you send your kids. Parents can demand an end to religious indoctrination if they so wish and send their kids elsewhere if they’re fail to persuade.

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    Mute Séamus Mc Allister
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:16 AM

    What are those religious FREAKS doing anywhere near education in this day and age? Seriously, it’s high time the church was banned from running schools. The creeps.

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    Mute Tony_Kilduff
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    Jan 19th 2015, 12:05 PM

    I wonder how long a comment would be left up if you called a gay person a freak ? Obviously ok to call the religious freaks though….

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    Mute John Turkey
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:52 PM

    There are many gay freaks and religious freaks. It’s fair game to identify people from both groups when the evidence supports the accusation.

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    Mute Luke Smyth
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    Jan 20th 2015, 7:44 AM

    One chooses to believe and therefore are open to ridicule. One does not choose to be gay so the same standards cannot be applied.

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    Mute Tony_Kilduff
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    Jan 20th 2015, 8:40 AM

    Says who Luke ? Did you just make up the rules on who it’s ok to insult yourself ? Any more of your rules you would like to share with us ?

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 8:48 AM

    Tony doesn’t understand Lukes comment. Awkward…..

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    Mute Tony_Kilduff
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    Jan 20th 2015, 8:58 AM

    Oh I understand it ok. You think you are something special because you are gay. It’s ok for you to ridicule others but nobody can ridicule you. You would be up in arms if were to call you a freak.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 9:10 AM

    Yes Tony I would. Nobody had called you a freak though. You’re not quit following though are you…..

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 9:10 AM

    *quite

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    Mute Mairead Conroy
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    Jan 20th 2015, 11:34 AM

    patronising

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:30 AM

    While some Nuns were evil bit_hes there lots of Nuns who worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor and the sick were brilliant and I wonder if the Nuns were still in control of our hospitals would the health situation be as bad as it is now?

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:40 PM

    You mean bad nuns like Mother Teresa. Money mad, spent very little of what she got on the poor. Preferred the poor to suffer and offer it up to her god.

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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 19th 2015, 2:10 PM

    The was a doc on RTE recently which looked at the work being done by nuns in Africa. One spritely old nun was discussing how she helps the local LBGTs and sees them as equal to everyone else. The presenter remarked how the head of her church would disagree with her about the equality to which she replied: “Well, he’s wrong”!

    Fair play to her!

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    Mute stephen
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:38 AM

    What homos was she referring to? homophobes maybe she’s needs to a bit more specific in future.

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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Homosapiens

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    Mute Tordelback
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:50 AM

    Could have been Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis, any of those hairy lads, which would have been a reasonable question – you could be totally wasting valuable contact hours teaching that lot about the sacraments. Who knows if they even have souls, never mind whether Guineys has Communion dresses in their size.

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    Mute Derek Murphy
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:09 AM

    Perhaps the position was for teaching English. The nun was simply concerned about homophones I’m sure.

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    Mute Cathy Hunt-Tyrrell
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:30 AM

    Just because a person has less experience, doesn’t mean they are less capable. Unless other people in the room heard the nun ask what she allegedly asked about the ‘homos’, we only have someone’s word who could, and did benefit financially from this accusation.

    I find people crying that they were discriminated against because of age, or this or that, immature or vain and incapable of accepting that someone else is better than them or they just were not the right person for the job. Sometimes the FACT is, that they were simply not a good fit. It’s a very subjective thing, having more experience doesn’t by default make a person better. It just means the person worked at something a certain way longer, perhaps not even particularly efficiently. Perhaps the school needed new blood, things to be done a different way. Perhaps the other person was an easier person to work with, had more energy and better health, was much more efficient????

    We all go for job interviews in which we consider ourselves the very best person for the job, but the panel or HR may not agree, experience or no. The award is, in my opinion, very harsh. We all have to take it on the chin if we don’t get a job we want and we’d be millionaires if we got 50 or 60k everytime we THOUGHT we should have gotten this job or that promotion but someone else beat us to it..

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    Mute E
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:50 AM

    Well said Cathy.
    A years wages because someone says a non pc word.
    Everyone have to abstain from talking if this cr@p goes on.

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    Mute Aleo48
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:57 AM

    We are not talking about the everyday realities of job-seeking here, but about clear and proven discrimination at interview, which the court was right to censure. One of the reasons experienced candidates can be seen as so dangerous by interview panels of the wit and calibre detailed here is that they’ve been battling on long enough to know the difference between a fair interview and a skewed interview. If they are to be denied a role in the classroom as contributors, why should they not do so as challengers? Any education system worth its salt should be able to face up to that. I applaud the teacher who brought the case, and hope there will be more like her in the time to come.

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    Mute Shane Hogan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 2:21 PM

    What did you base your conclusion that this was a harsh judgement on, Cathy? Did you read the IT article on the case, showing how interview notes were co-incidentally destroyed by two of board members when the equality complaint was submitted? Did you read the full tribunal case report from the Equality Tribunal, produced by an equality officer who deals with these cases all day every day, and is well aware of the points you make about recruitment?

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 19th 2015, 4:26 PM

    @cathyhuntyrrell please read the original decision which is linked and see so you still think the same.

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 19th 2015, 4:30 PM

    @E if you read the original decision you will see that the reason the complainant was awarded so much is not because of the discriminatory comment but because the person who became principal has less qualifications AND experience than her.

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:23 PM

    70% of Employment cases are settled in favour of the employee.

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    Mute Shane Hogan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 11:23 PM

    Do you have a source for this, Jim?

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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:32 AM

    What about the homos

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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Yes trickytrixster, it appears this question remains unanswered.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:46 AM

    Obviously they’re in the process of taking over the country. The next step will be to force everyone to be gay and to have gay men and gay women getting together to have gay babies.

    #gayagenda

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 20th 2015, 12:46 AM

    I for one welcome our new gay overlords. #gayagenda

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    Mute Simon Bevis
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    Jan 20th 2015, 10:24 AM

    What about the hummus?

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    Mute Christopher Gardiner
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:49 AM

    Is anyone surprised. Come on a nun has an attitude to Gay people. Shock horror. Of course she is prejudiced.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:52 AM

    I didn’t expect it to be that overt, though.

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    Mute Séamus Mc Allister
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:28 AM

    She should not be in a position to influence the development of children with her bs. If she wants to wear funny clothes and wax lyrical about “the homos”, let her do it in the convent, in the company of a thankfully ever-decreasing population of like-minded simpletons.

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    Mute archer 12
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:48 AM

    When are they going to rename the journal the gaynews.is?

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    Mute E
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:46 AM

    Spot on Archer.
    I now know why the company that owns the journal is called “Distilled” Media.

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    Mute Dennis Collins
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:53 AM

    Are they moving to Iceland then?

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    Mute Graham Mace
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    Jan 19th 2015, 3:45 PM

    Who’s account is this €54K compensation money coming from? Is it the church? Or is it Public money intended to pay for running the schools?
    Religious orders must be removed from state education involvement without further delay. The religious have their own agenda, obviously, and it is incompatible with secular values and norms. This isn’t an isolated example of religious bigotry. The bigotry is rife in all faith schools.

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    Mute Alan R
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    Jan 19th 2015, 7:52 PM

    I think it is pretty safe to say it won’t be the Church anyway.
    Taxpayer O’Muggins probably.

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    Mute Cathal Garvey
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    Jan 20th 2015, 12:46 AM

    It comes from the voluntary contributions’

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:17 PM

    Well Islamic faith schools are funded by wealthy donors in Saudi Arabia.

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    Mute Joan Murphy
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:12 AM

    So is she still working there as a teacher ?

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 19th 2015, 4:20 PM

    @joanmurphy the decision is linked at the bottom of the article. Yes she is and the less qualified person is her principal.

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    Mute John Staunton
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:54 AM

    That would be an ecumenical matter…

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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:59 AM

    Why are people so brainwashed still so actively involved in our childrens education. Also what about the mother and baby homes, what about harboring pedophiles?

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    Mute amos brearly
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    Jan 19th 2015, 8:21 AM

    Lol

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    Mute Kershie
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:36 AM

    why have an interview at all if they are just supposed to give the job to the most experienced person on paper?!?

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    Mute JakeTheMuss7
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:14 PM

    Always good for a laugh those auld nuns..

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Jan 19th 2015, 11:58 PM

    Become a Nun, throw away a perfectly good life, travel backwards 5000 years, live in misery, deny/smother your own sexuality until it distorts, dress like a bat and then spread your misery everywhere you go…..

    Its tragic really and they certainly should not be allowed around children or vulnerable adults.

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    Mute Seán Gallagher
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:10 AM

    Seems like a fairly good catalyst to review the clause in the employment equality act.

    Love to know what answer she gave.

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    Mute Seán L
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    Jan 19th 2015, 9:47 AM

    Trainee teachers today have to abide by rule 68 which states that the teaching of jebus snd his flying donkey is more important than any other rule. Trainee teachers actually have to write about this or else they fail.

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    Mute Dennis Collins
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:53 AM

    I’m a qualified primary teacher, though I don’t teach in Ireland. When you’re in teacher training in Ireland, you have the option to take the religious certificate too. It is entirely optional. However, if you don’t have it, that’s 98% of the country’s schools written off the list of potential employers, so effectively everyone takes it. If you do opt to take the test though, you have to spout it all out as if it’s the undeniable and fully backed-up truth. I had to spout out three A4 pages or so in my final exams on how Confession is necessaryto build a relationship with God, or something like that. Cannot remember exactly. I just remember being very proud of my skills in BS.

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    Mute Mairead Conroy
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    Jan 20th 2015, 11:43 AM

    Confession is still a sacrament that many people use in deepening their relationship with God and as such is very sacred.You may not believe in it as is your right but you could show some respect and refrain from referring to it with disparaging remarks…..you say more that is unflattering about yourself than the church you are so disdainful of.

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    Mute Eamonn Colfer
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    Jan 19th 2015, 6:16 PM

    Shows the need to scrap Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act (the ethos optout).

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    Mute May Ni Riain
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    Jan 19th 2015, 6:28 PM

    I think that it provides evidence that there is still antipathy towards LGBT teachers from patrons. But it also shows that despite section 37 it is still possible for the state to slap patrons on the wrist for discrimination.

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    Mute Jim Corbett
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:23 PM

    I don’t think it needs to be scrapped entirely, just redefined so that homophobia or bigotry doesn’t count as an ethos.

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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 19th 2015, 5:54 PM

    The nuns are still at it, the lying biddies.

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    Mute Amy Wallis
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    Jan 19th 2015, 1:36 PM

    Why did she get 54 grand and the security guard only 6?? There’s some discrimination right there too!

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 19th 2015, 4:38 PM

    @amy wallis both equality officers gave half of the maximum award permitted under the employment equality acts. On relation to the security guard he claimed under access to employment where the maximum award is only 13000 while the teacher got half of the maximum ( 2 years salary) under conditions of employment. Ir may not seem fair but thems the rules.

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    Mute May Ni Riain
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    Jan 19th 2015, 6:26 PM

    My dad wants to know who pays the award? Will it be garnished from his mass offerings?

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    Mute Alan Browne
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    Jan 20th 2015, 12:14 AM

    If only it were! Unfortunately the tax payers will so the church will get off yet again. The schools are the churches as long as it doesn’t cost them – then they become the States! Convenient eh!

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    Mute Cathal Garvey
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    Jan 20th 2015, 12:48 AM

    It comes from the voluntary contributions!

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    Mute May Ni Riain
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    Jan 20th 2015, 2:32 AM

    In the parish i live in” voluntary” contributions are given in numbered envelopes. And if you fall behind the priest is not shy about pointing it out when you go looking for someone to bury your dead!

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    Mute hsianloon
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    Jan 20th 2015, 3:57 AM

    She was given compensation for a years salary?

    Don’t tell me she was so offended that she became depressed and suicidal. This just stinks of someone making a complaint because they didn’t get the a job. Is she gay, non Catholic or atheist that she felt so offended, or just one of those that goes around feeling offended for everyone else. Was she fired or unable to gain employment as a result?

    I agree they school was wrong in the way it was conducted, but the outcome was ridiculous. Plus the damages awarded aren’t from the coffer of the school. Such a precious person.

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 21st 2015, 12:27 AM

    @hsianloon if you read the full decision you will the reason she got most of the compensation wasn’t because of the discriminatory remark but because the person who became Principal had NO school management experience and was less qualified. She was much younger than the complainant.

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    Mute E
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    Jan 19th 2015, 10:51 AM

    Sorry Typo
    Everyone will

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    Mute None
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    Jan 20th 2015, 4:36 PM

    Just another example as to why religious institutions should have no involvement in education whatsoever.

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    Mute Patrick Brennan
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    Jan 20th 2015, 11:22 AM

    Why is the school not being named? I would like to know if my children were attending this school!

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    Mute orl
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    Jan 21st 2015, 12:23 AM

    @Patrick Brennan if a complainat requests anonymity in a sensitve case the Equality Tribunal normally give it. If you read the full decision you will see it is a two-teacher school. Obviously if they named the school, the teacher that took the case would be identified.

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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jan 20th 2015, 6:56 AM

    Sr. Úfasach and the bould Dermot Clifford in cahoots!!!!! Not surprised at all

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 20th 2015, 3:31 AM

    Trust them to be stupid or is that just the mold they never grew out off, everyone is made in a mold???

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