To Separated People in Ireland

I have been asked by a colleague to publish the following article:

To Separated People in Ireland. The TV3 Vincent Browne Political Discussion TV show was recorded in Limerick City Hotel on last Monday night December 7^th 2015 to be aired later in the week. 

I was there with many others. As far as I can see they cut my question out. They do not seem to be interested in Separated Peoples points of view.

It demonstrates how TV Shows avoid questions that will point to even bigger problems out there that society, the media and the Government want to ignore. I think it is time for separated and divorced people to come together and fight for their rights and their children's rights. Time for the Irish Government to start treating us more fairly and honestly

Vincent Browne included among the topics: accident and emergency(A&E) hospital waiting times, homelessness, mental health, suicide, housing crisis, Article 8 the abortion issue and Irish Neutrality being compromised by US military planes landing in Ireland.

1. I stated that Separated Families make up roughly a tenth of the population. Two homes have to kept.

2. I asked the candidates present what they will do for Separated Families and their children?

3. I stated that in 2014 the €1200 tax free allowance was taken from Separated Men.

4. That this year the Children's Allowances to Separated Women was cut.

5. That in Ireland a Separated Man gets no extra Unemployment Benefits, Children's Allowance, Back to School Allowance, for the children. All of these benefits automatically go to Women. So these Men are forced to live below the poverty line when they have their children with them.

Roughly at this point Vincent Browne cut in and asked was I reading from a script or book. I replied that they were questions and points I had written down. He told me to get on with my points.

I went on to say I had a solution towards the costs in A&E hospital services.

A method of collecting Revenue for the Irish Government, since a sixteenth of the population is gone, left the country: Proportionally cut down the Dail, TDs, Senators, and Local Councillors and Councils and their staff by one 16th. We are top heavy; too many Chiefs not enough Indians to pay for them.

Also when our Dail TDs, Taoiseachs and Presidents retire do not give their pensions until they are 66 years old like the rest of the population. At that point I was cut off by Mr Browne, as you are only allowed 1minute to make your points and questions.

I had other points written down to tie it in with the discussion.

Last year 40% of the people who committed suicide were unemployed Separated Men.

• Roughly 60% of the homeless on our streets are men.
  
• There are no Domestic Violence Refuges for Men and their children, even though according to C.S.I. statistics of Ireland men equally suffer from Domestic Violence. Information listed on the AMEN Frequently Asked Question Battered Mens' website.
  
• Separated Men do not have equal parental rights in Ireland. As only women are covered by the Constitution, separated men have to go to court to get rights to be in their children's lives from a judge, even if they have been the house husband and main child carer. Why is that?
  
• Separated families generate about 7 billion Euro to the economy. This 7 billion Euros go to pay for two homes and all the goods therein. This also includes contributing to the wages of Solicitors, Barristers, Judges, Court Staff, Social Workers, Psychologists, Counsellors, Gardai, etc.
  
• As pointed out we have a high death rate and some suffer from mental health issues due to stress and parental alienation. We would like the candidates of the next election to deal with us and listen to us. We are a tenth of the population.

My questions were probably be cut as it was a two hour show that they only use about 30minutes of it.

I am a member of the FAMILES Organisation for Separated Men and Women in Limerick. We offer information and counselling services to those going through the trauma of divorce and separation. Their number is 087 260 3603.

Given the chance I would have spoken about the other program subjects above as well.

To Separated People in Ireland: I think it is time for separated and divorced people to come together and fight for their rights and their children's rights. Time for the Irish Government to start treating our children and us more fairly and honestly