Prof of Migration and Social Policy. Student of intellectual history. Loves dogs, not dogmas. Ideologies are not our friends. Empathy makes us human, or dogs
University College Dublin
Joined June 2012
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Twenty one years since my first book launch early in my career with @UCDSocialPWJ at @ucddublin
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Dutch man born from sperm donor calls IVF and surrogacy 'psychological terror for a child'
"What I want to emphasize is that the right to have a child does not exist. But the right to grow up with biological parents does exist."
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Incredibly tiresome to see the national broadcaster reporting on itself about…a sports podcast.
More seriously, politicians giving the issue so much attention in a parliamentary committee points to a political class increasingly detached from voter concerns.
This, border poll/reunification issues, care/family referendums, Israel/Palestine get huge attention from politicians and media, while polls show that these are not big issues for voters. Something out of kilter.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
In 2013, Elma Walsh lost her son Donal to cancer when he was just 16. Yesterday, she joined Kieran Cuddihy on RTÉ’s Liveline to speak against bringing assisted dying legislation to Ireland.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
My column this week is about a second motorway around Dublin. There are 5,000+ housing planning permissions per year from just 4 counties - Fingal, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. Building such a volume of housing without enough roads will only mean more commuter hell.
independent.ie/comment/opini…
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Google heard the outcry from parents, teachers, and the US Senate, who don’t want Gemini pushed into classrooms. AI causes cognitive offloading, encourages cheating on homework, and enables the possibility of forming human-like relationships with a chatbot. So Google responded: They are going to make Gemini an “opt-in” choice for each school district. Great!
But then they attached a condition: if a school district does NOT turn on Gemini, then the students lose Google search, which is deeply woven into the fabric of education. This is coercion, not choice. Google can and should just restore what we all had before: Google search with no AI chatbot interaction or AI overviews.
nytimes.com/2026/11/03/us/go…
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Sexism is women doing the dishes
Equality is men and women doing the dishes
Gender ideology is whoever does the dishes, is a woman.
@jimmycarr
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Simon
With all respect, you are Tánaiste, Minister for Finance, Leader of Fine Gael & rotating Taoiseach in waiting.
If you want transparency just go and do it.
If you want value for tax-payers or to expose wasted Gov spending... just go and do it.
We don't want you to tip-toe around and ask your "Govt colleagues" nicely what they think.
Open the books.
Release the spread-sheets & statistics.
These fluffy-lovely words don't cut it anymore.
They mean nothing.
We want actions.
Cutting spending means upsetting people.
"Every club needs a bollix"
People get made redundant.
Pointless projects get scrapped.
The media will hound you.
But the voters will respect you.
thats just my free advice...
Open invite to come on the podcast and tell us your plans
We need to see much stronger scrutiny of how public money is spent by external organisations. I want to work with government colleagues to see this addressed. So much taxpayers money is spent by external organisations. We have an obligation to ensure value for money & impact.
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
Simon Harris as Minister for Health signed the main contract for construction of the National Children's Hospital in 2019. The project has missed completion deadlines and is likely to cost €2.4 billion. The initial budget was €984 million. Providing no value for money.
finegael.ie/national-child…
Bryan Fanning retweeted
'We're cosplaying Irish 'freedom fighter' musicians, please let us appropriate your much worse conflict so that we can look cool and make a few quid'
Five years ago I held a masked ball to launch a book.
Not many people showed up, and everybody kept their distance.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
One of the many excellent Irish Catholic articles in this weeks edition. This one is about NGOs and Grannies and that disgraceful video. Well worth a purchase.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
We are very grateful to Dr Nat O’Connor, UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice for coming in today and delivering a fascinating and very informative seminar titled “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders as a Public Policy Challenge for Ireland” as part of our Seminar Series.
For the full Geary seminar series schedule, visit our website: ucd.ie/geary/newsevents/semi…
#UCD #GearySeminar
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Finally, a new (and very lengthy) article: Joe Duffy and the very Irish mess that women have to deal with. Link in comments below.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Too often, we immigration experts soften or withhold inconvenient findings because we fear they can give ammunition to an anti-immigration side we see as completely devoid of reason.
But as I argue in my new paper, our silence has cost the case for immigration more than candor.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
I'm looking forward to speaking tomorrow about how Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a public policy challenge for Ireland. People living with FASD need supports.
1pm Tuesday 27 October 2026.
@ucdgearyinst UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy. Free event. All welcome.
Bryan Fanning retweeted
Our next Geary Seminar will take place next Tuesday, 27th October at 1pm in the Geary Seminar room (B003/004).
We will welcome Dr Nat O'Connor, UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, to present on "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders as a Public Policy Challenge for Ireland".
Lunch will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you there! 😃
#UCD #GearySeminar
