text: Marie Kierans: Christmas is a time of worry for many homeless families - Marie Kierans - Irish Mirror Online
  Marie Kierans: Christmas is a time of worry for many homeless families
  Marie Kierans on excess and poverty at Christmas and why she could be smelling like a man from now on
  Over 450 families have become homeless in Dublin alone for the 11 months of this year
  'Tis the season to be jolly – but for many there's not a lot to cheer about, though they'll put on a smile as it's Christmas.
  They will try to push their worries to the back of their minds for a few days, but anxiety about the future and mounting bills are never far away.
  The recession officially may be over though not for everybody.
  Every day there's another poor family turfed out of their safe warm home with nowhere to go.
  New figures released from Focus Ireland this week show that 42 more families will be homeless this Christmas after losing their homes during the month of November.
  This means that shockingly over 450 families have become homeless in Dublin alone for the 11 months of this year.
  That sad sorry figure includes 1,000 kids, our nation's children who have been forced to bear the brunt of the country's collapse.
  The economy may be in recovery yet the suffering is still going on.
  Kids are going to school hungry because parents have to choose between paying to keep a roof over their head or putting food on the table.
  Despite what the government might say or want us to believe not enough is being done to help those at the bottom, battling to stay afloat.
  The recent ESRI report is proof of that.
  It found that the budgets since the crash have hit those without jobs while Budget 2015 favoured the high earners.
  As the Fine Gael and Labour TDs tuck into their Christmas dinner they need to digest much more than their grub.
  They need to take the time out to reflect on the fact that they are letting a large section of society down.
  They may be publicly playing down the campaign against water charges.
  But they will do so at their peril.
  Many hard-pressed citizens are still in dire straits.
  The widespread unprecedented revolt against water charges is indicative of the mindset of those hit hardest because of the recession.
  After years of cuts and extra levies it is one austerity measure too far. If you don't have a lot, a couple of euro a week means everything.
  But for some reason the politicians we elected to run ourcountry can't seem to grasp that. Those who have peace of mind and no financial worries should give thanks for their blessings this festive season.
  For citizens feeling the pinch with very little to look forward to it's important to try and hold it together.
  Life may seem cruel and it probably is. But hopefully there are better days ahead. And if you are feeling more down than usual remember that there are organisations out there to lend support and are always just a phone call away.
  Health service at breaking point
  THE health service is in meltdown and with hospital overcrowding hitting record levels, something really is going to give.
  It is no wonder that unions are pleading for something to be done.
  A glance at the figures on a random day during the week – last Tuesday – showed there were 499 patients around the country waiting on beds.
  The strain on the system and stress on staff has prompted calls for a national emergency to be declared.
  In recent months the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has been pushing for action.
  But even lunchtime protests to highlight the glaring failings in our health care service seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
  How nurses and doctors are coping under such duress is a credit to their dedication. But it cannot go on indefinitely.
  A&Es are at breaking point. So too are the medical staff.
  And it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realise that patient care and safety is being compromised.
  The medical staff do their absolute best but they are run off their feet and operating under enormous stress.
  Health Minister Leo Varadkar needs to wake up and smell the coffee. The priority should be to ensure appropriate standards of care. It's the least that sick citizens deserve.
  Gender divide creeps into shopping
  The last thing shoppers want to hear about in the run-up to Christmas is that they are having to fork out more because of their gender.
  But that is what Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins is claiming and she has evidence to back it up.
  It seems women are paying much more than men for almost identical products and services because of a so-called "pink tax".
  These higher prices discriminate against females – and it's not on.
  For example, regarding one store's own-brand deodorant, the cheapest female option was a 75ml can for 69 cents.
  However, the cheapest own-brand male deodorant was a 150ml can for 74 cents. It means that the male own-brand was almost the same price but twice the size.
  I consider myself a savvy shopper but how did I not spot this before?
  In another well-known supermarket chain, men's shaving gel was €2.69 compared to €3.92 for female foam.
  Fair play to Senator Higgins for highlighting this gender price unfairness.
  She is now calling on all Irish retailers to be reasonable and fair in their pricing practices and not force women to pay more.