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offsite link North Korea Increases Aid to Russia, Mos... Tue Nov 19, 2024 12:29 | Marko Marjanovi?

offsite link Trump Assembles a War Cabinet Sat Nov 16, 2024 10:29 | Marko Marjanovi?

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Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Why Do 1,000 Refugees Get Free Wimbledon Tickets While Long Suffering Locals Get None? Mon Jun 30, 2025 19:37 | Jo-Anne Nadler
As Wimbledon gets underway, its SW19 neighbours have to put up with a lot, from encroaching development to security checks to get home. Yet, unlike 1,000 refugees, they're shut out from the tennis, says Jo-Anne Nadler.
The post Why Do 1,000 Refugees Get Free Wimbledon Tickets While Long Suffering Locals Get None? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Criminal Investigation Launched into Bob Vylan and Kneecap?s Glastonbury Performances as US Revokes ... Mon Jun 30, 2025 17:43 | Will Jones
Police have announced a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap's Glastonbury?performances as the Trump administration kills the punk duo's American tour by revoking their visa over antisemitic death chants.
The post Criminal Investigation Launched into Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Glastonbury Performances as US Revokes Punk Group’s Visa Over Antisemitic Death Chants appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link What is the Purpose of Sydney Sweeney?s Bathwater? Mon Jun 30, 2025 15:30 | Chris Bullick
Unilever ? the company that once declared "brands without purpose have no future" ? has bought the Sydney Sweeney bathwater soap brand. Woke is dead, says Chris Bullick.
The post What is the Purpose of Sydney Sweeney’s Bathwater? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Chris Whitty Was Behind Covid Guidance That Triggered Care Homes Spread, FOI Emails Reveal Mon Jun 30, 2025 13:01 | Will Jones
Professor Sir Chris Whitty?was responsible for government guidance that was believed to have triggered the spread of Covid into?care homes, the Telegraph has revealed.
The post Chris Whitty Was Behind Covid Guidance That Triggered Care Homes Spread, FOI Emails Reveal appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link An Inspector Calls ? and Then Tells You What to Think Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:00 | Jack Watson
Sixteen year-old Jack Watson confesses to lying about what he really thinks about socialism and climate change to get good grades in his GCSEs. If you criticise either, he says, you will be marked down.
The post An Inspector Calls ? and Then Tells You What to Think appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

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Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

A tale of two layers

category national | health / disability issues | other press author Monday September 02, 2013 06:29author by oldhackauthor email newsmediaman at nokiamail dot com Report this post to the editors

I have spent over 30 years working in journalism as a chief reporter and as news editor.

In May 2012 I suffered permanent damage to my eyesight following an assault. One year later, in May 2013, the Department of Social Protection awarded me a disability allowance on the basis of the hospital surgeon's medical report regarding my condition, backdated to the date of my injury in 2012.

16 months later and I am still waiting to receive any of the awarded disability allowance payments.

Some weeks ago I was sent a letter by the Disability allowance section requesting that I provide bank statements, which I duly did. As one of the statements I submitted was a printed on-line bank account statement, it was rejected by the allowance section as inadequate and I received a further demand to provide full bank statements. I obtained full bank statements and sent them off.

As one of the statements showed a number of small UK bank cheque deposits - none over €50, I received another letter telling me, not asking, that I was in receipt of a UK Dept. of Works pension and would I confirm such.

This is not the case and I had to again write to inform the Disability Allowance section that no, I did not have a pension, was in fact not entitled to one as I was no longer resident in the UK and was due a small private pension on turning 65, which would amount to less than €25 weekly. This information was fully provided when I applied for the allowance.

The cheque payments were from private individuals who had received IT and PC assistance from me. The total payments amounted to much, much less than the allowed earnings ceiling.

I am 63 years old and live alone in a small privately rented townhouse in Limerick City. When the rent and other utility bills have been paid, it is a losing struggle to manage on weekly food never mind other basic essentials. I am completely unable to afford any heating and bleakly look forward to the return of winter.

My local unemployment office informs me that my disability allowance has been 'cleared' but appears to be 'held up' due to the personal cheque payments into my bank. I have still not received any payments and must attend my doctor's surgery every week for a medical certificate - something I have now had to do since May 2012.

This is the Department of Social Protection ? ? ?
Whose ?

author by fredpublication date Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It's Orwellian language.

You're assumed to be guilty until proven innocent. The idea is to prevent as many people as possible from availing of their rights to social payments so the money can be better spent on things like TD salaries, german bankers gambling debts, policing the stealing of our gas by shell, etc etc. . What happens to people after they are refused benefits is of no concern. Presumably they are all solar powered and waterproof!

Like capitalism in general, the current system punishes honest people and rewards sociopaths and liars who have no consience about lying and falsifying documentation etc.

I presume you have already been through the indignity of begging from your community welfare officer?

That's probably your only option while awaiting judgement, but it's not pleasant.

 
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