A very busy chairperson
Posted by Maman Poulet on 01 Mar 2010 at 11:50 am | Tagged as: Iona Institute, Irish Politics, Religious Right Dressed up as research institutes
I was sent this invitation to an event later this month which is being organised by the Iona Institute.
‘Reducing teenage pregnancy and sexual activity: What works and what doesn’t’
Venue: Davenport hotel, Dublin 2Date and time: Thursday, March 25, 8pm
Chair: Sean O Fearghail TD
The Law Reform Commission has recently recommended that contraception be made available to minors without the permission of their parents. The theory is that this will help reduce teenage pregnancy.
But is this true? The British experience would suggest it is not. The Iona Institute has therefore invited a leading expert on this topic, Professor David Paton of the University of Nottingham, to present what the evidence really has to say in this area.
Drawing on a wealth of evidence, he will show that involving parents in decision-making is a crucial factor in reducing teenage pregnancy and sexual activity.
Professor Paton holds the Chair of Industrial Economics at the Nottingham University Business School. His research on the determinants of teenage pregnancy has been discussed in the House of Commons and House of Lords and has been the subject of considerable press, radio and TV coverage.
He has published a number of articles exposing the failures of UK Government policies in reducing teenage pregnancy.
The chair of the meeting will the Sean O Fearghail, Fianna Fail TD for Kildare South, He is the Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
What is the person given the responsibility for chairing Oireachtas discussions on health and children doing chairing a meeting of a private organisation which ‘promotes the place of marriage and religion in society. We defend the continued existence of publicly-funded denominational schools. We also promote freedom of conscience and religion.’
It’s not surprising to note that the Iona Institute have several supporters in Dáil and Seanad Eireann who they get to chair lectures and public meetings. Sean O Fearghail TD however is no ordinary interested backbencher when he’s paid a stipend to chair committee proceedings in the Oireachtas on matters concerning Health and Children. I assume discussions and invited expert opinions on this matter in the Oireachtas will be more balanced?
By the way on Professor Paton – he’s a professor of industrial economics, his other specialist subjects? Betting and cricket.
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Old Ireland is alive and well.
So industrial economics huh? Who’d have known? Oh please! I thought a Chair of a Committee should be impartial?
Pity FF didn’t study industrial economics before they ****ed over the economy and left us with the NAMA paternity bill!
Hold on, why the hysteria? Can’t a member of the Oireachtas chair a meeting? Isn’t it worth looking at this mans research. Is promoting religion now suddenly a subversive activity that the politically-correct thought police are going to ban?
It never ceases to amaze me how the most closed-minded people I meet are those who fancy themselves as liberal and open-minded.
Live and let live I say!
Who’s hysterical?? There’s lots of research out there by the way – not just the type that suits the aims of Iona.
Why not an economist as an ‘expert’ on health? They fancy themselves the go-to experts on everything else (including global warming!) these days…
Interesting find. Iona are really flying below most peoples radar. That said the debate is certainly worth having re- sex education. something that is done behind to many closed doors. which lets admit this meeting is
There’s certainly lots of research. There are still divided views though. And perhaps there always will be? Between the teach them nothing/Tell them everything brigades. Between the It Should Be Taught At Home/It Should Be Taught At School brigades. Between the Teachers Should Teach It/ Outside Experts Should be Brought In to Schools brigades. Iona has an agenda though and in fairness they are not remotely behind the door about that.
I don’t understand the point about Sean O Fearghail. There is nothing to stop any TD chairing any meeting, and it would be utterly ridiculous if chairing a committee was to mean that a TD’s views on a subject were to be neutered.
Professor Paton will be on the radio in the morning