Yearly Archives: 2016

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As I sit here in my apartment, the persistent shrieking of a nearby house alarm that started eight hours ago continues to destroy the peace of the weekend. With the owners away and no way of communicating with them, there is little I can do about this situation short of trespass and vandalism.

Although legally all house alarms should have a maximum external alarm duration of 15 minutes, in reality very few meet this standard, and the Garda is essentially powerless unless evidence of repeated and persistent instances of noise pollution are brought before a judge.

In other countries, house alarm standards might be enforced, or officers of the law might be empowered to act when faced with a clear case of noise pollution.

In Ireland, however, we just shrug our shoulders and lament the inefficiency of our country. While I acknowledge that, typically, issues of greater import are discussed on this page, it is noteworthy that with each passing hour I can feel my vote increasingly promised to the first politician that pledges to solve this simple but recurrent and distressing problem.

Colin Davenposrt,

Dublin 9.

House alarms and noise pollution (Irish Times letter)

PA

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Michaella MCollum

Further to Michaella McCollum’s interview on RTÉ 1 last night following her release on parole for a drug smuggling conviction in Peru.

Journalist and broadcaster Philip O’Connor writes:

The following questions need to be answered, promptly and thoroughly:

1. Who initiated the story/interview – was it Michaella, the journalist on the ground, the RTÉ news desk, a book publisher, PR agency or similar?

2. Did Michaella, her family, her foundation or any other party connected with her receive any sort of compensation (including, but not limited to, cash, flights or accommodation) in return for her co-operation?

3. Did Michaella and/or her representatives promise RTÉ or their representatives exclusivity? If so, what did they receive in return?

4. Were there any demands or requirements made by Michaella or her representatives as to where, when and under what circumstances the interview would take place?

5. Did Michaella and/or her representatives refuse to answer particular questions, or seek a list of questions prior to the interview? If so, did RTÉ accede to those requests? Did the journalist on site decide the questions to be asked or was he instructed by the news desk?

6. Is there more than one take of any of Michaella answers to the questions posed?

Anyone?

Public interest demands that RTE answer questions on McCollum (Philip O’Connor, Our Man In Stockholm)

Michaella McCollum: Peru drug smuggler tells of ‘moment of madness’ (BBC)

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Deportations from Greece to Turkey by Frontex officials under way this morning

The deportations under the EU/Turkey deal in relation to refugees began this morning with boats leaving the island of Lesbos and Chios for Turkey.

The Guardian reports:

Two boats carrying the first migrants to be deported from Greece to Turkey under an EU deal with Ankara have arrived in the Turkish port of Dikili.

…Officials from the EU border agency Frontex said the boats, which departed from Lesbos, were carrying 131 deportees, mostly Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Moroccans who were already being deported to Turkey before the deal’s creation. This means Monday’s deportations are not a true test of whether the agreement can stop the flow of mainly Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis to Greece.

…Eva Moncure, a Frontex spokeswoman, said there were no children on the first two boats. Two Syrians were onboard, including a woman who had volunteered to return.

The deportations on Lebsos were calmly carried out at dawn, several hours ahead of schedule… Disembarkation was delayed while officials erected a white tarpaulin on the boat to block the media’s view.

…A Turkish catamaran was also transporting refugees from Chios, a Greek island near Lesbos, on Monday morning. Local TV reported that 60 migrants and refugees were on board. Volunteers on the island alleged that they saw police beating deportees at the quay.

…Anas al-Bakhr, a Syrian engineer from Homs who is among those stuck on Chios, said police marked his arrival date as 20 March – when the deal came into force – even though he arrived the day before.

“They said the computers were broken that day,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Dikili, Turkey…

UPDATE:

First boats returning migrants and refugees from Greece arrive in Turkey (The Guardian)

Previously: Return To Sender

Pic: AA

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[US software marketing firm] HubSpot’s Dublin HQ, North Wall Quay, North Wall, Dublin 1.

Free catered breakfast…free gym..free craft beer (six taps)…free desks.

Stephanie writes:

Today we launched HubSpot Dublin’s (or, as we like to call it, DubSpot’s) brand new office! There’s still some construction going on but I know you’ve published pics on AirBnb‘s and Google’s offices before so I thought you might want to check out HubSpot’s new office: We’ve only been able to publicly post photos since this morning. Bar and gym are included also and we’re hiring 320 people over the next couple of years…

Six Reasons Why You’ll Want To Work At HubSpot, Dublin (LinkedIn)

Previously: Inside Google Dublin

Google Office Envy Latest

Mi Casa Tu Casa

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Heads of state and their associates linked to the Panama papers release

The leak is being managed by the grandly but laughably named “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists”, which is funded and organised entirely by the USA’s Center for Public Integrity.

Their funders include Ford Foundation; Carnegie Endowment; Rockefeller Family Fund; W K Kellogg Foundation; Open Society Foundation (George Soros) among many others. Do not expect a genuine expose of western capitalism. The dirty secrets of western corporations will remain unpublished.

Expect hits at Russia, Iran and Syria and some tiny “balancing” western country like Iceland. A superannuated UK peer or two will be sacrificed – someone already with dementia.

The corporate media – the Guardian and BBC in the UK – have exclusive access to the database which you and I cannot see. They are protecting themselves from even seeing western corporations’ sensitive information by only looking at those documents which are brought up by specific searches such as UN sanctions busters.

Corporate Media Gatekeepers Protect Western 1% From Panama Leak (Craig Murray)

Frank Flannery unable to explain documents on £250,000 deposit (irish Times)

Frank Flannery caught in the mega net of the Panama Papers (SluggerOToole)

Panama papers – The Power Players

Meanwhile…

iceland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORlq_zrfWDc

Possibly not tax compliant Icelandic prime minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson,walks out of an interview with Swedish television company SVT.

Dodgy geyser.

netflix

What you may need to know:

1. Two radio journalists fake their own kidnapping.

2. Written, directed and starring Ricky Gervais. *Shudder*

3. It’s another Netflix original.

4. Well, sort of. Special Correspondents is a remake of the 2009 French movie du même nom.

5. Is there any sadder sound than the oppressive silence of wasting an hour browsing Netflix?

6. Broadsheet prognosis: Dance, monkey, dance.

Release Date: April 29 (Netflix).

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Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin (right)and Fine Gael leader, and acting Taoiseach, Enda Kenny

Pat Leahy, in the Irish Times this morning, reports:

Meetings to discuss a possible new government will continue today as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil intensify their efforts to woo Independent TDs in advance of Wednesday’s vote for taoiseach.

Fianna Fáil will hold an all-day meeting with the group of five rural Independents. Tomorrow it will meet the six members of the Independent Alliance.

Front bench Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan dismissed reports that the party’s mood towards coalition with Fine Gael was softening.

And party sources said the Leitrim Fianna Fáil organisation last week voted 50 votes to none against coalition with Fine Gael in an example of grassroots feeling, which is strongly against any such deal.

Meanwhile, earlier…

And yesterday…

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Leo Varadkar tweeted:

My posters cleaned, counted, stored and ready to be deployed.

FF denies mood softening towards FG coalition (Pat Leahy, Irish Times)

Related: Does anyone still take them seriously? (Gene Kerrigan, Sunday Independent)

Rollingnews

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Irish Dr Mark Bonar accused of prescribing banned treatments to sports stars

The innocent youngster might hope,
That footballers don’t cheat with dope,
That the beautiful game,
Will remain free from shame,
Can we reassure them? Erm, nope.

John Moynes

Times