An Taoiseach Enda Kenny greets Colm Reddy, a long-time protester against the landing of US military planes in Shannon Airport, on his way into the weekly Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings, Dublin this morning.
Previously: “One ‘Herald’, Please”
Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
President Michael D Higgins meets Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Royal Dais in Windsor and inspects the irish Guards this morning.
Mmmf.
Pics: Fennel Photogrpahy, BBC Breaking New
UPDATE:
President Higgins and Michael D Higgins in Windsor Castle.
(Photocall ireland/Aras)
Professor Martyn Poliakoff and his colleagues at the University of Nottingham recall some of the most dangerous chemicals they’ve ever handled.
Previously: Professor Poliakoff And The Barking Dog
@paveepoint Here is how Brenda Power sees fit to mark International Traveller and Roma Day in the Irish Daily Mail. pic.twitter.com/BlJuNPVr3U
— Mark Kelly (@Blackhall99) April 8, 2014
Nisan Grenwich writes:
FILM NOT DEAD! Quick snap of 35mm head leader of Fargo (1996) screening at the IFI tonight at 18:30!
[From top: The European Court of Justice in Kirchberg, Luxembourg and Digital
Rights Ireland logo]
In 2006, Digital Rights Ireland took a case against in the State, challenging the legality of the retention of data by phone companies and internet service providers.
DRI argued that laws which require ISPs and mobile phone companies to log details about a person’s location, text messages, emails, internet use and to store that information for up to two years is a breach of the right to privacy. This information didn’t include the content but rather the matter of who called who, when and for how long; where a person was at a given time (via a mobile), who emailed or texted and when.
In 2012, the High Court referred the case to the European Court of Justice for an opinion on the validity of the EU data-retention directive (2006/24/EC).
Today, the ECJ found the directive invalid, stating:
“…entails a wide-ranging and particularly serious interference with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data” and that it “entails an interference with the fundamental rights of practically the entire European population”.
And:
“The fact that data are retained and subsequently used without the subscriber or registered user being informed is likely to generate in the persons concerned a feeling that their private lives are the subject of constant surveillance.”
In a statement TJ McIntyre, Chairman of DRI, said:
“This is the first assessment of mass surveillance by a supreme court since the Snowden revelations. The ECJ’s judgement finds that untargeted monitoring of the entire population is unacceptable in a democratic society.”
McGarr Solicitors, who represent Digital Rights Ireland, said:
“This case is a profound statement of European values by Europe’s top court. The court has rejected the principle of mass surveillance of EU citizens without suspicion as incompatible with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It will be up to individual member states to now ensure their domestic law is in compliance with the ECJ’s judgment.”
Read full text of the judgement here
European court declares data retention directive invalid (Irish Times)
Related: Tomorrow’s ECJ judgement Q&A
Previously: Fight For Your Digital Rights
Thanks Eoin
You may recall yesterday’s Easter Fun Pack competition?
Bertie Blenkinstop, Spaghetti Hoop and Condor (hijack attempt by andyourpointiswhatexactly duly noted) will be sent a fun package (above) worth €7.50 containing Clonakilty Chocolate and a toy from Clonakilty-based Little Green Dot handmade toys.
Thanks all.
Available to buy HERE
Previously: Have We Lost The True Meaning of Easter?
What you may need to know:
1. It’s the final feature directed by Ken Loach, who’s retiring from movies at 77. He says he will continue to make the odd documentary.
2. Loach directed Poor Cow (1967), Cathy Come Home (1966), Kes (1969), Hidden Agenda (1990), My Name Is Joe (1998) and The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006). He’s a right and proper legend. And a bit of a genius.
3. Jimmy’s Hall was filmed in Leitrim and Sligo Ireland last summer – it tells the true story of political activist Jimmy Gralton.
4. It stars Barry Ward, Simone Kirby, Andrew ‘Moriarty’ Scott and Bishop Len Brennan himself, Jim Norton.
5. Broadsheet Prognosis: Ken Do
Release Date: Summer
The Army Bomb disposal unit at Rathfarnham Garda Station this morning after an investigation of a suspicious package addressed to Justice Minister Alan Shatter got under way. The package was intercepted at a Dublin Post Office.
Suspicious package to Alan Shatter prompts evacuation of Garda station (Irish Examiner)
Pics via House Hatcher and Cathal McMahon
The Battle of Clontarf.
Stop blaming the Vikings.
Mick Liffey, of the HistoryHub.ie, writes:
With the millennium celebrations of the Battle of Clontarf coming up in the next few weeks your readers might be interested ina History Hub video which takes a close look at 1014. It features UCD medieval historian Elva Johnston who explains why Brian Boru was an important figure; what the battle was about; who fought it; and how the story of the battle was reshaped by Brian’s descendants.
Elva argues that the Battle of Clontarf was an internal struggle between rival, though closely related, power bases from within Ireland itself, rather than an Irish effort to repel a Viking invasion. Brian Boru’s two main opponents at the Battle of Clontarf were Máel Mórda (King of Leinster and Brian’s brother-in-law) and Sitric (Hiberno-Norse King of Dublin and Brian’s son-in-law). The graphic (above) shows how closely related the main figures on both sides were to each other….”