Category Archives: Abolition Of Work

9,000 tuition fees need to be replaced with a fair and financially sustainable system. Photograph: Getty

University tuition fees are back in the spotlight. Labours manifesto pledge to abolish fees saw a re-energised student constituency help put paid to expectations of a Conservative majority. Now, Conservative political leaders are scrambling to respond to the issue. The overwhelming impression we are left with is that the current system has lost credibility. It must be swept away and replaced with one that is both fair and financially sustainable.

Students and their parents feel they have been unfairly treated by paying the bulk of their higher education costs themselves they are right. Under the 2017 system the average debt for graduates is over 50,000, with students from the lowest income families averaging nearly 60,000. This is politically unsustainable.

I believe there needs to be a fresh approach. It is in the national interest for universities in England to be able to educate students, carry out research and contribute to the community. A strong university system is crucial for economic and social development, with society and businesses alike benefiting from a well-educated graduate workforce so it is fair that they should foot significant proportions of the cost.

The pre-2012 system was a reasonable compromise, with students paying approximately one third of the total fees through an interest-free, index-linked government repayment scheme.

Since there are three beneficiaries of higher education, there should be three principal sources of funding: taxpayers, companies and the individual. As well as tuition fees and general taxation, there should be a payroll tax or levy on enterprises with the proceeds earmarked for higher education. Introducing a contribution from companies will ensure that philanthropic funding provides a vital boost without serving as a substitute.

There is a pressing need to develop a new system, now that several recent developments have thrown into sharp relief how unsustainable the 2012 student finance system is. Firstly, the rate of interest on student loans from September will be an eye-watering 6.1%. This means that most recent graduates will find their real debt increasing in their early years of graduate employment, even though they are making payments through the tax system and paying tax after 21,000 at a rate of 29%.

Secondly, the decision to bring nurses and midwives into the fees system attacks a large and valuable group. These students are studying to enter professions that are highly valued socially but poorly paid. Entrants to these professions are much more likely to be drawn from working class backgrounds than those of other professions such as medicine, law and accountancy. While studying, these students are expected to work 2,100 hours in practice, on the wards and in the clinics. The student midwives need to successfully deliver 40 babies. Nursing and midwifery students work night and weekend shifts how are they to undertake paid holiday jobs and part-time work?

Successful nursing and midwifery graduates will typically progress to earnings of around 35,577. Graduates with an average debt of 50,000 will find that it never diminishes in real terms until it is eventually written off after 30 years. The impact of the student loan system is that our nurses and midwives will simply receive a take-home pay cut of 4.8% (at the top of the scale). This makes absolutely no sense when there is a significant and growing national shortage throughout England of both nurses and midwives.

The fee reform has also had a disastrous impact on the number of part-time students and mature students. This has made much-needed continuous professional development more difficult. The government should contribute to provide re-training and re-education instead the current system inhibits this.

Immediate action is needed in parliament to restore an inflation uplift only arrangement for student fee debt and for HM Government to meet the fee costs for nurses and midwives. I am optimistic that a majority can be secured for both proposals.

One question remains: would abolishing fees mean a re-introduction of a cap on student numbers? While I welcomed the abolition of the overall student number control, it is clear that it has had detrimental effects. It was neither necessary nor good policy for all number controls to be abandoned on all individual institutions. This has simply resulted in greater competition for students to come to university X rather than Y. It has not resulted in a concerted effort to increase the number of students studying at university. In fact, numbers of full-time students are dipping slightly and numbers of part-time students have diminished very sharply.

Instead, government should abolish the overall number control while subjecting individual institutions to a form of crawling peg control, dampening individual fluctuations while still allowing for overall growth and for institutions to grow or decline in the medium term. A new form of clearing could be introduced for all unplaced and appropriately qualified students at the end of the admissions cycle. This will widen participation and lead to sustainable reform.

Current higher education policy makes it likely that many universities will become financially unstable amid the scramble for students. We are already seeing the early warning signs with the 4% drop in applications and announcements of job loss programmes in a number of institutions. Reform is needed now in the interests of the students, graduates, universities and the country as a whole.

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It's time to radically rethink university tuition fees - The Guardian

350 Years of Slavery

From its discovery in 1500, Brazil has been a hub for human trafficking in South America.From about 1600 to 1850, some 4.5 million enslaved Africans were taken to Brazil; this is ten times as many as were trafficked to North America and far more than the total number of Africans who were transported to all of the Caribbean and North America combined.1

In 1550, Brazil became a major importer of African slaves, making slaves an estimated 38.3 percent of the population of Rio de Janeiro, its capital city.2This pattern continued as nearly four million slaves were imported into Brazil during its colonial era.In a 2010 Brazil census, it was found that 97 million Brazilians, or 50.7% of the population, now define themselves as black or mixed racemaking African-Brazilians the official majority for the first time.3

The enormity of the slave trades foothold in Brazil was so far-reaching, that the nation largely failed to develop an effective anti-slavery movement, even while many other nations around the world were making revolutionary reforms. Throughout the 1700s and early 1800s, slavery was being weeded out in the British Empire, North America, and France. Brazil, however, still had nearly one and a half million slaves with the number of slave imports only accelerating at 5.7%.4

It wasnt until the late 1800s that reformist activities began to foment at institutions of higher learning. Young lawyers, students, and journalists started to urge their fellow Brazilians to follow the example of the liberation of the slaves in North America. In 1873 Joaquim Nabuco began his fight against slavery in Brazilinspiring the formation of the Brazilian Anti-Slavery Society. He declaredthat there is no freedom nor independence in a land with one million, five hundred thousand slaves!5 The struggle for total abolition kept moving forward under his leadership, and finally on May 13, 1888, the imperial family passed Lei Aurea, the Golden Law, making Brazil the last nation in the Western Hemisphere to formally abolish slavery.6

Even after the slave trade was abolished, years of exploitation continued to have profound effects on Brazilian society, including deep social divides and the widespread expansion of prostitution. Ever since the late 19th century, prostitution has been part of the cultural landscape in the early period of Brazils modernization and urbanization, as slave or ex slave women turned to offering sexual services for survival.7 Such long-standing slavery in Brazil created a vast lower class and extreme inequalities. According to the CIA World FactBook, 21.4% of Brazils 196.6 million inhabitants live below the poverty line.8

Today, just one hundred and twenty-five years after slavery was abolished, Brazil still faces the repercussions of its near 400-year human trafficking legacy. There is an urgent need for resurging abolition efforts to combat a battle that has moved from the brutality of plantation life to brutality in the streets: sex trafficking. The extreme economic inequalities give children and teens no other choice but to find work wherever they can, turning the sex trade into modern-day chains of oppression. Ripples of ancient systems and dehumanization still linger across Brazil, yet when we look at Brazils history, we see that abolition proves to be an inevitable force. It is a story that prevails, with heroes that rise up even in the harshest of circumstances, and its time to open up the history books to write a new legacy of liberation.

1. Jos C. Curto, Rene Soulodre-La France, African And The Americas: Interconnections During The Slave Trade, p. 4 2. Jos C.Curto, Rene Soulodre-La France. African And The Americas: Interconnections During The Slave Trade, p. 4 3. Phillips, Tom, Brazil census shows African-Brazilians in the majority for the first time, November 17, 2011, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/17/brazil-census-african-brazilians-majority 4. Etlis, David, Economic Growth and the Ending of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, p.44 5. Carolina Nabuco, translated and edited by Ronald Hilton, The Life of Joaquim Nabuco, p. 75 6. International Labour Organization, Forced labour in Brazil: 120 years after the abolition of slavery, the fight goes on, May 2008,http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/features/WCMS_092663/langen/index.htm 7. Cristina Pimenta, Sonia Corra, Ivia Maksud, Soraya Deminicis, and Jose Miguel Olivar, SEXUALITY AND DEVELOPMENT: Brazilian national response to HIV/AIDS amongst sex workers, http://www.abiaids.org.br/_img/media/Relatorio%20prost%20feminina%20INGLES.pdf,p. 15 8. CIA World FactBook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html.

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History of Slavery and Abolition in Brazil - Exodus Cry

Clay Neely / The Newnan Times-Herald

Camera, lighting and audio equipment, are part of the support services film companies use during production including catering, construction, transportation, accounting and payroll, and post-production, which employs many Cowetans.

The film industry in Coweta County, and the industry shows no sign of slowing down.

Parts of Coweta can frequently be seen transformed into film sets for movies and TV shows.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced Monday that Georgia-lensed feature film and television productions generated an economic impact of $9.5 billion during fiscal year 2017. The 320 feature film and television productions shot in Georgia represent $2.7 billion in direct spending in the state. Georgias film industry supports thousands of jobs, boosts small business growth and expands offerings for tourists, said Deal. As one of the top places in the world for film, Georgia hosted a remarkable 320 film and television productions during the last fiscal year. These productions mean new economic opportunities and real investments in local communities. We are committed to further establishing Georgia as a top film destination and introducing film companies to the Camera Ready backdrops available across Georgia. In addition to the increase in production expenditures, Georgia has experienced significant infrastructure growth with multiple announcements in fiscal year 2017, including the expansion of Pinewood Studios in neighboring Fayette County and the announcement of Three Ring Studios in Covington.

Pinewood studios has 18 sound stages and is expected to grow even more, according to Brian Cooper, Pinewood Studios vice president of operations.

The studio officially started filming in June 2014, and three years later, Pinewood is the second-largest film studio in the United States, behind Warner Brothers.

With the additional infrastructure in Covington can accommodate larger productions with more capacity for multiple film projects. Literally hundreds of new businesses have relocated or expanded in Georgia to support this burgeoning industry creating jobs for Georgians as well as economic opportunities for communities and small businesses, said Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. Although these support-services companies cannot claim the tax credits, they directly benefit from the increased amount of work in the state, and the fact that the savings from the Film Tax Credit are typically re-invested in the project, creating additional economic impact and activity for these Georgia-based businesses. The economic impact of the film industry can be felt across multiple sectors. In addition to camera, lighting and audio equipment, film companies use a wide range of support services during production including catering, construction, transportation, accounting and payroll and post-production.

Cooper said Pinewood Studios utilizes vendors for various needs such as props and equipment rental, and many people working with the vendors live between Fayette and Coweta County.

Chris Clark, president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the impact of the movie industry in Georgia at a Pancakes and Politics Breakfast earlier this year.

He talked about how the film industry positively affects Coweta and Fayette Counties. Clark said most post-production of films made in Georgia is done in Los Angeles.

Bills were introduced to encourage productions to do their music and post-production of films in Georgia, Clark said.

He said more films may be coming to Georgia because of the recent abolition of film tax incentives in Texas.

Georgias growth in the film industry - from $67.7 million in direct spending in FY 2007 to $2.7 billion in FY 2017 - is unprecedented, not only in production spend, but also in the amount of investment that has been made in infrastructure, said Lee Thomas, deputy commissioner for the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office. The unwavering commitment to this industry by Governor Deal and the Georgia legislature has ensured Georgias place as a top destination for film and television. In 2017, the state Film and Tourism divisions partnered to celebrate the Year of Georgia Film to highlight Georgias film tourism sites, including local communities that have served as backdrops for movies and television productions since the 1970s.

(Kandice Bell contributed to this story. kandice@newnan.com )

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Deal: Film industry generates $9.5 billion - The Newnan Times-Herald - Newnan Times-Herald

Photo: SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem. Photo/File

Anthony Mwangi @PeopleDailyKe Parliament will no longer be as attractive as it has been following stringent measures put in place by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to scrap benefits and allowances.

Key among the benefits is a generous car loan amounting to Sh7million repayable at an annual interest rate of three per cent, which is repaid by the end of each term. With the abolishing of car loans, the taxpayer is set to save Sh2.9 billion from the 416 legislators.

Yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomed the move to keep the wage bill at sustainable levels and directed every public servant, State officer and Kenyans to support the work of the Commission, and to abide by its guidelines.

I call upon every Kenyan to support the Commissions recommendations, and Jubilee Administrations quest to keep the wage bill at sustainable levels. The days of wasteful allowances and peculiar but inexplicable payments are behind us, he said.

The President said the only way to secure a strong economy is to manage Kenyas finances prudently by restraining recurrent expenditure so as to enable the country spend more on socio-economic development programmes such as education and roads, among others.

Also read: Black Diamond close in on leaders in Left Foot league

To achieve the development, President Uhuru said in a statement, public servants must be paid fairly, but within the countrys means. However, the recommendations by SRC are likely to face stiff challenge from MPs who are likely to defy and review them as has been the case in the recent past.

The argument has been that Parliamentary Service Commission is an independent entity free to make its own budgetary provisions. MPs, who will serve in the 12th Parliament are set to lose much more benefit and allowances, but the most critical will be the mileage allowances which had become a cash cow by the lawmakers.

The weekly mileage allowances which SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem (pictured) has deemed it fit to abolish is paid out as reimbursement for travel costs to their constituencies. Legislators are also set to have their mortgage slashed after SRC indicated that the Sh20 million will be reviewed.

Lawmakers have allegedly been cheating their way by colluding with parliamentary staff to falsify documents to indicate that a member had travelled upcountry while he/she was in Nairobi.

Also read: Uhuru says Raila panic stems from looming defeat

With the abolition of the mileage allowances, the taxpayer is set to save millions paid during the term. Rates differ since they are paid per kilometre, with MPs from far-flung areas of northern Kenya earning millions of shillings monthly.

Each member is entitled to claim a weekly refund of Sh109 per km up to 750 km and thereafter 70 per cent or Sh76.30 per km. The provision has been favourable for MPs from northern Kenya who earn up to Sh1 million monthly.

Parliamentary and committee sittings will no longer be enticing as they used to be after the allowances were abolished. Some MPs report to the House to literally append his or her signature for the Sh5,000 allowance.

MPs will, however, retain medical cover for self and family. It amounts to Sh10 million for inpatient and Sh300,000 for outpatient, among other benefits.

Gratuity and pension payments at the end of Parliaments five-year term will also be reviewed by the commission. MPs in the last Parliament took home Sh3.7 million (Sh61,666 a month) as gratuity and a pension that worked out to Sh121,600 a month.

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House no longer attractive as MPs face allowance cuts - K24 TV

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) addresses a rally in support of the Affordable Care Act in Covington, Kentucky on July 9, 2017.JAY LAPRETE AFP/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders was traveling through Trump country (West Virginia and Kentucky) last weekend in an effort to rally opposition to Republican attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare. These efforts notwithstanding, Sanders still refuses to embrace Obamacare. As soon as we defeat this disastrous bill, I will be introducing a Medicare-for-all, single-payer program, he said during the rally. He hasnt even embraced the Democratic Party, despite his bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee. When asked if he was a Democrat, he responded , Not even remotely anymore. The Democratic Party now is a disaster, an absolute mess. I dont see a party now that represents me.

Sanders still describes himself as a democratic socialist, rejecting the moderate left progressivism of the Clintons, as he emphasized in his presidential campaign. According to Sanders, the Clintons embraced Wall Street, where Hillary Clinton had made hundreds of thousands of dollars giving speeches, following in the footsteps of Bill Clinton, who during his presidency had deregulated banks by signing the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, repealing the Glass-Steagall cornerstone of New Deal banking reform. The Clintons had accommodated consolidations and mergers in the world of banking, they had encouraged the growth of too-big-to-fail big banks, and Sanders was the only candidate willing to take on Wall Street and break up the big banks.

Putting aside the question of the practicality of a break-up-the-big-banks reform agenda, we should pose a simpler, conceptual question first: Why would a socialist want to break up big banks? Socialists want to nationalize banks, not break them up. If anything, socialists prefer bank consolidation to simplify the administrative task of running a nationalized banking system. Nationalization is the only path to provide the collective ownership of the means of production (in this case, the production of financial products). Socialism entails the abolition of private property in business life, but breaking up banks would leave banks as privately owned enterprises still seeking to make profits through the marketplace. Socialists argue that profit-making in a competitive market leads inevitably to exploitation and alienation.

The proposal to break up the banks sounds more like the trust-busting Progressive Era agenda one would associate with Woodrow Wilson than anything socialist. Eugene Debs, not Woodrow Wilson, was the socialist of the Progressive Era, and Debs had been sufficiently schooled in Marxist theory to realize that socialism required the abolition or private ownership of the means of production. Sanders admires Debs (he had a picture of Debs displayed in City Hall when he was mayor of Burlington, Vt., but it isnt clear he understood the radical agenda Debs had embraced. Is it possible that the only prominent national politician who describes himself as a socialist today is clueless regarding the meaning to the term socialism?

Prepared remarks by Sanders on democratic socialism suggest as much. He begins his commentary on democratic socialism by focusing on Franklin Roosevelts 1937 inaugural address, where Roosevelt famously stated that one-third of the nation was "ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished. Sanders identifies with FDR and his campaign against the economic royalists, praising New Deal policies for succeeding in putting millions back to work and taking them out of poverty and restoring their faith in government. Democrats would almost universally share these laudatory views of Franklin Roosevelt, but Sanders proceeds to note that almost everything FDR proposed was called "socialist. Does this make FDR a socialist? The implication of Sanders logic, given that he embraces both FDR and democratic socialism, is that because FDRs enemies labeled his agenda socialist, he was a socialist. FDRs political enemies also called him a dictator, especially after he introduced his court-packing bill. Did that make FDR a dictator?

Later in his speech, Sanders finally defines what democratic socialism means to him. Democratic socialism means that we must create an economy that works for all, not just the very wealthy, he said. Adam Smith, the author of the The Wealth of Nations in 1776 and the father of capitalism, would have said that capitalism intends to "create an economy that works for all, not just the very wealthy" (Sanders definition of democratic socialism).

Finally, Sanders concedes, I dont believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth deserve a fair deal.

Sanders isnt a socialist. He is an American progressive. Given the dismal history of socialism in the 20th century, which is inextricably intertwined with the history of totalitarianism, Sanders would do well to start using words with their conventional meaning. The only cause that Sanders idiosyncratic usage of words promotes is his own political ambition.

Donald Brand is a professor of political science at the College of the Holy Cross.

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Why Bernie Sanders Isn't Actually a Socialist - Fortune

The Citizens Assembly has recommended abolition of mandatory retirement ages; elimination of the time gap between retirement and eligibility for the old age pension and that pensions be linked to average earnings, the Irish Examiner reports.

The recommendations come after a weekend of hearings during which the assembly looked at various issues relating to pensions for older people, work and income.

It voted on 16 proposals, which will be the basis for a report to be sent to the Dil and Seanad.

Eighty-six per cent of assembly members said mandatory retirement ages should be abolished, while 96 per cent said the issue of people being forced to retire at 65 but being ineligible for the State pension until 66 should be resolved.

The introduction of a mandatory pension scheme in addition to the state pension was supported by 87 per cent of those present, while 88 per cent said the pension ought to be pegged to average earnings.

A substantial majority also agreed to recommend that private pension schemes be renationalised.

Michael Collins, assistant professor of social policy at University College Dublin, suggested that tax breaks for those who invest in private pensions should be brought to an end.

The policy of supporting private pension provision through tax breaks is skewed towards those on higher incomes, he said.

It is worth considering whether society should more efficiently use its resources to provide an improved basic living standard for all pensions, one well above the minimum income standard, and discontinue subsidising private pensions savings.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, assembly chairwoman(pictured), said she aimed to have the report ready for the Oireachtas by the end of September.

10 July 2017

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Citizens' Assembly recommendations include abolition of mandatory retirement ages - Irish Legal News

The Citizens Assembly is to tell the Government to abolish mandatory retirement ages, eliminate the time gap between retirement and eligibility for the old age pension, and to link that pension to average earnings, writes Caroline ODoherty.

The recommendations follow a weekend of hearings at which the assembly discussed a wide range of issues to do with income, work, and pensions for older people.

Sixteen proposed recommendations were voted on and will form the basis for a detailed report to be sent to the Dil and Seanad.

On the question of abolishing mandatory retirement ages, 86% of the assembly members present said this practice should be outlawed, while 96% said the anomaly whereby people who are forced to retire at 65 but can not get the State pension until they are 66 should be removed.

A recommendation to seek the introduction of some form of mandatory pension scheme to supplement the state pension was backed by 87%, and 88% said the pension should be benchmarked to average earnings.

A large majority also voted to recommend the rationalisation of private pension schemes.

On general issues of care for older people, the majority voted to recommend the allocation of more resources, with the preference that funding be ringfenced and come from a compulsory social insurance payment.

They want that money spent primarily on improved home care services and supports, and want statutory regulation of the home care sector.

Assembly chairwoman Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said she aims to have the report written and ready for the Oireachtas by the end of September.

The recommendations were decided following presentations by experts in law, finance, social care, and human rights, but not all the ideas put forward made the final cut.

Earlier, the assembly heard from Micheal Collins, assistant professor of social policy at University College Dublin, who suggested a radical change in policy to end tax breaks for people who invest in private pensions.

He said State pensions were the most important source of income for retired people in Ireland, accounting for 53% of their income as compared to 32% from private and occupational pensions.

The policy of supporting private pension provision through tax breaks is skewed towards those on higher incomes, said Prof Collins.

It is worth considering whether society should more efficiently use its resources to provide an improved basic living standard for all pensions, one well above the minimum income standard, and discontinue subsidising private pensions savings.

Justin Moran of Age Action and Ita Mangan of Age and Opportunity argued strongly for the abolition of mandatory retirement ages, and UCD professor Liam Delaney warned that any move towards mandatory pension enrolment for workers should first examine the likely impact on wages, on administrative burdens for small businesses, and on other forms of financial provision that people made for their future such as investments. None of these impacts had off-the-shelf answers, he warned.

The assembly will next meet in September to discuss what Ireland should do about climate change.

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Mandatory retirement age may be abolished - Irish Examiner

State says new tax system is stabilising

New Delhi, July 10:

After implementing the Goods and Services Tax, Jammu and Kashmir is now also planning to abolish toll tax.

It goes against the spirit of GST. Most traders have sought the abolition of toll tax. It also impacts consumers. We will try and take up it up in the next meeting of the Cabinet, said Ajay Nanda, Minister of State of Finance, Jammu and Kashmir.

A toll tax is levied on vehicles as well as goods including consumables entering and leaving the State.

This can be as low as 1 per loaf of bread, or as high as 4,000 per quintal of cigarettes. Similarly, the toll rates on vehicles also vary. The State earned over 3,000 crore from toll tax last fiscal, according to official data.

Toll, mandi charges and fee on vehicle entry into States are not subsumed in the GST and will continue to be charged by local bodies or state governments.

However, opposition parties as well as traders unions have sought that the toll be abolished as it will work as a tax on tax and will hike prices of goods coming into the State.

The removal of toll tax would also mean smoother movement of goods across the State borders.

GST was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir nearly a week after its July 1 launch across the rest of the country.

On July 6, President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2017. Completing its roll out, the President on July 8 promulgated two Ordinances for extension of Central and Integrated GST to the State.

Nanda told BusinessLine that the businesses in the State are ready for GST and it has been fully implemented in the State.

Taxpayers had been asked to enrol for GST when the registration windows were opened by GST Network.

The new system will take some time to stabilise. We are monitoring the situation, he said, adding that supply of goods to the State is also now normalising.

Nanda said that there are no differences in the structure of the GST in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the States.

It is the same tax. Some local exemptions will continue, he said.

Since Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, it had to amend its own Constitution for implementing GST.

The State has decided to allow taxpayers with an annual turnover of up to 50 lakh to opt for the composition scheme.

(This article was published on July 10, 2017)

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After GST launch, J&K plans to abolish toll tax to ease business - Hindu Business Line

A Children Court judge has called for the abolition of a law which criminalises parents who can be punished as a result of their childrens misbehaviour.

Parental Supervision Orders may be imposed on parents of children who commit crimes.

Under the Children Act 2001, an order may be imposed if a court is satisfied that a wilful failure of the childs parents to take care of or control the child contributed to the childs criminal behaviour.

The court can tell a parent to adequately and properly control or supervise the child to the best of their ability.

Failure to comply with an order is deemed as contempt of court and can result in fines or periods of custody.

However, District Court judge John OConnor said in an address to lawyers, garda and social workers that there should be no punishment of parents for the offences committed by their children and parental supervision orders should be abolished.

Such orders, he said, are unlikely to contribute to parents becoming active partners in the social reintegration of their child.

They are ineffective in practice and it isnt acceptable internationally to criminalise parents of children in conflict with the law.

Judge OConnor made his comments during a speech entitle What Works and What Could Work Better in Irish Youth Justice Policy at the annual Irish Criminal Justice Agencies conference.

10 July 2017

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Judge calls for abolition of 'ineffective' parental supervision orders - Irish Legal News

Student funding is in a mess. Graduates now owe 100bn. More than three-quarters of them may never repay all their loan. In a report published last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned not only that outstanding debt was growing, but the abolition of maintenance grants last year leaves poorer students owing 7,000 more than better-off ones. Higher interest rates, introduced to offset the cost of raising the earnings threshold in 2012, mean that the average debt after three years is now 50,000. One of the systems godfathers, the former Labour minister Andrew Adonis, said on these pages on Saturday that it was time to scrap it. Even Theresa Mays ally, Damian Green, says fees need a rethink. Loyalists, like David Willetts, architect of the 2012 system, argue that this is not a fiscal problem but a political one, fuelled by Jeremy Corbyns vote-winning pledge to abolish fees. But universities who have done very well out of the system are nervously watching Mr Corbyns success, and wondering what a post-Brexit future holds. Higher education, and the chances it creates for the brightest and best of the next generation, are too precious anational resource for this uncertainty.

Student fees were introduced nearly 20 years ago to boost university budgets without breaching the ferocious spending totals that the new chancellor, Gordon Brown, had committed to keep within. The level was whatnow appears a trifling 1,000; there wereno loans, but there were generous exemptions, so while a little over a third of the 300,000 students who went to university each year paid the full amount, 45% paid nothing at all. In 2006, Lord Adonis raised the level to 3,000 so that student numbers could be expanded without taxes needing to rise. All the same, this co-funding with the state cost Labour: the Liberal Democrats infamous pledge to abolish fees at the 2010 election had as dynamic an effect on the student vote in university towns like Cambridge, Leeds, Sheffield and Cardiff as Labours pledge did inplaces like Canterbury in 2017.

In coalition, the Lib Dems reluctantly conceded, amid noisy and occasionally violent protest, to raise fees to 9,000 a year. Teaching grants to universities were cut; for the first time student loans attracted above-inflation interest rates. The cap on student numbers was lifted. Universities responded as academics such as Stefan Collini eloquently protested by adopting business techniques, selling degrees rather than education. The average vice-chancellors salary is currently 277,834. Facilities are transformed. Its easier to get in to universityand student numbers paused, thenresumed their rise.

But, as the latest IFS report shows, some of the fiscal assumptions on which the new order was based are starting to look a bit flaky.Nor is it only the financial arrangements: the idea that fees would createa competitive market among universities that would drive up standards has proved to be a farce. Instead of a differential, virtually all universities immediately charged the full 9,000. There has been no move to introduce, say, two-year degrees to cut the cost to students: why would universities intentionally reduce their fee income? Lord Adonis now wants the competition regulator to investigate what he claims is a cartel. He believes the whole edifice has become unsustainable, creating apersonal and national debt mountain without improving outcomes.

Defenders of tuition fees including the Guardian have argued that there are hard-to-replicate benefits. They have funded a huge expansion of higher education. The so-called debt, only repayable once earnings exceed 21,000 and forgiven after 30 years, operates like a progressive graduate tax. High-earners pay more.

Yet that is not how it feels. Students and new graduates say their reward for doing everything the state encouraged has simply left them with a debt millstone. Post-2008, graduate salaries have stagnated and few earn enough to have a chance of getting on the housing ladder. Expanding student numbers has been a gift to the middle classes, still four times more likely to go to university than poorer contemporaries. No wonder Labours idea for a national education service from reception to graduation, free for everyone, got students queuing round the polling stations and won the backing of an unrepentant Blairite like Lord Adonis.

Yet just removing fees risks being an even bigger bung to the better off. Labour needs to spell out exactly how it would work, how it could be done without capping student numbers again, and how it would improve the student experience. Its not always better to chuck a system out and start over. But thismay be one of the times when it is.

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The Guardian view on abolishing student fees: easier to say than to do - The Guardian