Is the budget being leaked at the moment? (Didn’t Septic Phil have to stand down over leaking of a budget?)
Posted 2:30 am this morning, ‘Budget to include tax breaks for people working from home, Tánaiste strongly signals’
Irish Independent declares, as it’s main headline on its website.
Posted 2:30 am this morning. ‘€500 voucher for frontline staff on the table with remote workers also set for Budget break’ Irish Independent declares. This headline replaced the former for consumption for readers at 7am. , yet was posted at the same time.
Irish Mirror. 23 hours ago. ‘Budget 2022: Everyone in line for ‘Covid bonus’ as Tanaiste Leo Varadkar suggests when you’ll get it’
2 days ago. ‘Plans for extra bank holiday in 2021 at an advanced stage’ RTE
Clearly Tom doesn’t like criticism of the current government.
How petty..
Tom J
@man on fire, It’s Tom J, I couldn’t give two hoot’s about the current government.
GiggidyGoo
A Bank Holiday will be no use to many healthcare staff who are working over-hours and will end up working that bank holiday anyway.
The whole shebang about Bank Holiday / Extra Pay for ‘Essential Workers’ is divisive and probably more kite-flying.
just millie
I think it’d be easier to find an example of when the government isn’t implementing reactive policies to deflect from the issues they’ve steadily been ignoring for decades (see housing, healthcare, transport, infrastructure – water and now electricity).
GiggidyGoo
Housing crisis? We will have the grand total of Eight affordable houses built this year. Yes – Eight
We need nuclear power plants, especially if we are going to be whoring out our own power supply to data centres.
And yes, I’d live near one. It’s the reprocessing plants I’d have a concern about but there’s always Leitrim if needed.
GiggidyGoo
Data centers provide almost no employment once operational. There’s little, or no return to the State, yet the State will somersault to provide power to them, to the disadvantage of the population.
The simplest thing then would be for these data centers to be suppliers of their own power – build their own smaller power stations on site – wind, solar, whatever, and be responsible for their own power supply.
Would the Greens support such a move I wonder?
ian-oG
Exactly. Its quite possible to supplement their power with wind, solar etc. It wouldn’t be enough but it wouldn’t be too difficult to do so to the extent that it alleviates the amount of power taken away. Also bear in mind that modern data centres are built to be as energy efficient and to use as much energy reclamation as possible and yet they still require massive amounts.
The fact this is happening and is being trumpeted as being somehow a win for this country is absurd. You’re right about the staffing levels once up and running and even the 3rd party contractors that are needed such as plumbers and electricians are minimal. But the build process is where the positive spin stories occur with talk of hundreds of jobs and so on but this quickly dwindles to a trickle.
If we are genuinely looking at shortfalls in the power grid then the first thing that needs to go are these energy drains. But don’t expect Eamonn Ryan to wake up and do anything about it. I wonder what the exchange rate is for a data centre to cycle lanes?
Ragamuffin
There’s a motion before the Dail today by Jen Whitmore of Social Democrats for a moratorium on data centres. It seems very sensible to press pause on more data centres until we can figure out secure energy generation for the next 5 years. I’ve written to my TDs and asked them to support it, would encourage anyone else concerned to do the same.
Over the last number of years 70 data centres have been built in Ireland, which are now using 11% of Ireland’s electricity, and Eirgrid predict that by 2028 that will have risen to 27%. To illustrate the scale of their power consumption, by 2026 the proposed Amazon centre in Mulhuddart alone would use 4.4% of Ireland’s energy supply, which is the equivalent of Galway city. Once built, these centres offer little employment and even a large centre like Amazon’s would employ an estimated 30 people.
Good post Ragamuffin, I’ll give that link a read this morning.
Paulus
Let the Dail pause before pressing Enter
To approve a brand-new data centre.
Consider cost implication
Of more power generation
And bill the facility’s progenitor.
.
…is that the same Jen Whitmore who maintained on Morning Ireland that if people would just delete a few emails there would be no need for more data centres…she must have got that idea from FG…*
* what colour do you get if you mix deepest red and true blue…
ian-oG
Also, what is the Brits obsession with James Bond?
I haven’t watched one in years, the last one I saw was dreadful to the extent I can remember pretty much nothing about it. It seems almost like some sort of UK government propaganda exercise replete with smiling vapid vacuous royals (speaking of royals, what’s with Willies barnet in the Telegraph front page above? Just fuppin shave it dude, I’m starting to thin a bit on top and even though my barber reckons it will be fine for a good long while to come I’ve already started wearing it quite close cropped – evenly. I guess its not seen as quite ‘royal’ to have a suede head?)
paul
he’s one of the best things going for them really, he used to represent colonial glory and being better and wittier than everyone else. Then some uppity Welsh and Irish blokes took the role, had some marginal success *cough* and now it’s back to good English stock in Daniel Craig.
That was uncomfortable to write, channeling gammon.
A cueball head might be seen as too modern. Photo flashbulbs reflecting on a shiny head would be indecorous (this said as a fellow baldy).
ian-oG
Always thought Dalton was the best, great actor, especially in comedy roles.
paul
was listening to a podcast yesterday that mentioned off hand that if Dalton had a third bond film, or even Goldeneye (if the times had worked out) he’d be the best. License to Kill is definitely in my top 3.
just millie
Oh that dress Kate Middleton is wearing is absolutely gorgeous. Real old Hollywood glamour there.
GiggidyGoo
It’d be gas if she got a leading part in the next Bond movie – as one of Bond’s romantic interests.
ian-oG
Well her acting credentials are impeccable. One might really believe she is everything they make her out to be. Not having a go, I am sure she is a nice enough person but the way the UK media portray her as some sort of modern day Saint who is above all and any criticism and incapable of putting a foot wrong is quite cringe. I remember while Diana was toeing the line she was also held up as being the same but we now know that Diana was not a well woman and her mental health issues were seen as an embarrassment to be quashed rather than addressed lest she bring stigma into that family – the irony!
just millie
Not disputing your point – I totally agree actually. The slavish way the UK media (even the Irish media at times) write about her is unnerving.
But I would just draw attention the harassment she received for many years at the hands of the tabloids, both before and after her marriage. She wasn’t always the patron saint of the British royal family. I think the shift in tone came around the time Harry met Sally Meghan, unsurprisingly. And then they say the UK media isn’t racist.
ian-oG
That’s a very good point millie, I had forgotten how her initial treatment was hardly pleasant. I wonder how her and Meghan get on, must be surreal being a part of all that, clearly too surreal (among other things!) for Meghan anyway, time will tell with Kate but William does seem to be a lot more human than most of them at least even if he still comes off as a bit robotic at time.
SOQ
Vaccine thought of the day: I would get vaccinated except then I’d be living in fear of the unvaccinated.
Papi
Jibber Jabber.
ian-oG
@SOQ Vaccinated thought of the day:
I genuinely hope, despite our bickering that you don’t catch covid. No tricks, no game playing, not trying to be smart; outside of this I always found common cause on a lot of other issues with you.
Stay well dude.
SOQ
And why should I be the topic of infection more than anyone else? Because I am not vaccinated or because I have strong views on the subject? There are those who rush to highlight every single case of an unvaccinated who falls to Covid-19 but completely ignore those who were vaccinated- that is gloating of the worse kind.
Some people view these jabs as being a means of security and peace of mind- good for them but I do not, I feel the exact opposite. Even if no injury occurred, it would cause me huge stress and I would be border line hypochondriac after it. That doesn’t mean I am right and others are wrong, just that those vaccinations are not for me.
I probably already had it btw- certainly a few instances of similar in the past.
ian-oG
Just a genuine, simple ‘stay well’. Take it as you will but it was meant in all sincerity.
I’ve zero interest in point scoring here, been too much sickness, both physical and spiritual among us all over the last year and a half. Anyway, that’s it, nothing more, no pontificating, no finger pointing, no gloating.
SOQ
Absolutely- and best of health to you too because without it, you have nothing.
ian-oG
100% SOQ
SOQ
Hospitals in New York State suspended and fired hundreds of workers who refused to comply with Monday’s new vaccine mandate for health care employees
New York’s state health department issued an order last month mandating that all healthcare workers receive at least their first COVID-19 shot by September 27
Hundreds of healthcare workers across the state have been suspended without pay and will lose their jobs in the coming days if they do not get the vaccine
Of the 43,000 employees at the New York City’s 11 public hospitals, about 5,000 were not vaccinated according to head of NYC Health + Hospitals on Monday
“It (Vaccine Passports) does not save lives, instead merely helping to reduce humanity to a panicked mass of reactionary rule-obeyers who get nervous when they are left to their own devices without orders to follow.”
Nigel
Wow. The irony of a Russian outlet talking about ‘police state jaws snapping shut’ is off the charts. ‘Reactionary rule obeyers.’ Isn’t that a quote from Putin’s political manifesto? ‘Reactionary rule pberyeres don’t accidentaly fall out of windows.’
SOQ
Except it not a Russian outlet talking about it- it is an American journalist- RT merely published. Try harder Nigel.
Of course the main topic is that NY state will have to bring in military to do the jobs of people who were hailed as hero’s a year ago and who now won’t even get unemployment, but sure lets just ignore that eh?
Nigel
Yeah, not sure that’s a meaningful distinction you’re making there.
This is certainly an extreme step, but I don’t think there’s anything particularly heroic about going to work in health-care, particularly frontline healthcare, while unvaccinated, when vaccines are available to all.
SOQ
Vaccines which we now know for certain do not prevent transmission- and that is where the entire argument falls down.
If a vaccine only impacts the health of the recipient then it should be a personal choice only. The only communitarian argument for mandatory vaccination is infectiousness.
Otherwise, why not sack all overweight people or those who smoke? Where does it end?
Nigel
Vaccines which we know know reduce the likelhiood of catching and transmitting the virus, and reducing the chances of it being severe if it is contracted.
Being overweight or being a smoker does not increase anyone’s chances of catching the virus, only the chances of it being severe if they do catch it.
SOQ
But we don’t know that it reduces the level of infectiousness- that is just speculation because they are supposed to reduce infectiousness, therefore they must.
But the data is suggesting the exact opposite- countries with high vaccination rates are now seeing huge spikes- if they are as claimed then just does not make sense.
Nigel
High rates of infections amongst unvaccinated versus low rates among vaccinated suggest otherwise.
SOQ
Things are getting mighty queer in NYC these days. BLM is kicking off about Vaccine Passports.
Trump supporters and BLM on the one side- not in your wildest dreams could you imagine, but it is happening.
Is the budget being leaked at the moment? (Didn’t Septic Phil have to stand down over leaking of a budget?)
Posted 2:30 am this morning, ‘Budget to include tax breaks for people working from home, Tánaiste strongly signals’
Irish Independent declares, as it’s main headline on its website.
Posted 2:30 am this morning. ‘€500 voucher for frontline staff on the table with remote workers also set for Budget break’ Irish Independent declares. This headline replaced the former for consumption for readers at 7am. , yet was posted at the same time.
Irish Mirror. 23 hours ago. ‘Budget 2022: Everyone in line for ‘Covid bonus’ as Tanaiste Leo Varadkar suggests when you’ll get it’
2 days ago. ‘Plans for extra bank holiday in 2021 at an advanced stage’ RTE
Varadkar missing the limelight.
Let’s go fly a kite. All together now. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zNSler7jBWs
A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.
Nothing on a housing policy that will actually benefit the citizens of Ireland? No?
Just another bank holiday? Ah… Right so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
+1
Bring on a GE.
I want to see FFG punished for their failure to serve the people they’re supposed to represent, instead of being led by their own interests.
Agreed. We need – and deserve much, much better from our political system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
Your point, caller?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caller
Clearly Tom doesn’t like criticism of the current government.
How petty..
@man on fire, It’s Tom J, I couldn’t give two hoot’s about the current government.
A Bank Holiday will be no use to many healthcare staff who are working over-hours and will end up working that bank holiday anyway.
The whole shebang about Bank Holiday / Extra Pay for ‘Essential Workers’ is divisive and probably more kite-flying.
I think it’d be easier to find an example of when the government isn’t implementing reactive policies to deflect from the issues they’ve steadily been ignoring for decades (see housing, healthcare, transport, infrastructure – water and now electricity).
Housing crisis? We will have the grand total of Eight affordable houses built this year. Yes – Eight
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/only-eight-affordable-homes-to-be-provided-in-2021-mcdonald-tells-dail-in-heated-exchanged-with-taoiseach-40900909.html
We need nuclear power plants, especially if we are going to be whoring out our own power supply to data centres.
And yes, I’d live near one. It’s the reprocessing plants I’d have a concern about but there’s always Leitrim if needed.
Data centers provide almost no employment once operational. There’s little, or no return to the State, yet the State will somersault to provide power to them, to the disadvantage of the population.
The simplest thing then would be for these data centers to be suppliers of their own power – build their own smaller power stations on site – wind, solar, whatever, and be responsible for their own power supply.
Would the Greens support such a move I wonder?
Exactly. Its quite possible to supplement their power with wind, solar etc. It wouldn’t be enough but it wouldn’t be too difficult to do so to the extent that it alleviates the amount of power taken away. Also bear in mind that modern data centres are built to be as energy efficient and to use as much energy reclamation as possible and yet they still require massive amounts.
The fact this is happening and is being trumpeted as being somehow a win for this country is absurd. You’re right about the staffing levels once up and running and even the 3rd party contractors that are needed such as plumbers and electricians are minimal. But the build process is where the positive spin stories occur with talk of hundreds of jobs and so on but this quickly dwindles to a trickle.
If we are genuinely looking at shortfalls in the power grid then the first thing that needs to go are these energy drains. But don’t expect Eamonn Ryan to wake up and do anything about it. I wonder what the exchange rate is for a data centre to cycle lanes?
There’s a motion before the Dail today by Jen Whitmore of Social Democrats for a moratorium on data centres. It seems very sensible to press pause on more data centres until we can figure out secure energy generation for the next 5 years. I’ve written to my TDs and asked them to support it, would encourage anyone else concerned to do the same.
Over the last number of years 70 data centres have been built in Ireland, which are now using 11% of Ireland’s electricity, and Eirgrid predict that by 2028 that will have risen to 27%. To illustrate the scale of their power consumption, by 2026 the proposed Amazon centre in Mulhuddart alone would use 4.4% of Ireland’s energy supply, which is the equivalent of Galway city. Once built, these centres offer little employment and even a large centre like Amazon’s would employ an estimated 30 people.
Really excellent summary of the issues on ‘Not Here Not Anywhere’ campaign group’s website https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P72ncJuEiOy_lemXYmVaLAheGicc_32G/view
Good post Ragamuffin, I’ll give that link a read this morning.
Let the Dail pause before pressing Enter
To approve a brand-new data centre.
Consider cost implication
Of more power generation
And bill the facility’s progenitor.
.
Good man, Inda..!
2 pints?
How many pensions?
(… did I forget to mention the Zapper..?
…the Maurice McCabe debacle…?)
https://www.enterprise.gov.ie/en/News-And-Events/Department-News/2016/June/16062016.html
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/enda-kenny-adds-new-board-position-to-growing-portfolio-40898413.html
…is that the same Jen Whitmore who maintained on Morning Ireland that if people would just delete a few emails there would be no need for more data centres…she must have got that idea from FG…*
* what colour do you get if you mix deepest red and true blue…
Also, what is the Brits obsession with James Bond?
I haven’t watched one in years, the last one I saw was dreadful to the extent I can remember pretty much nothing about it. It seems almost like some sort of UK government propaganda exercise replete with smiling vapid vacuous royals (speaking of royals, what’s with Willies barnet in the Telegraph front page above? Just fuppin shave it dude, I’m starting to thin a bit on top and even though my barber reckons it will be fine for a good long while to come I’ve already started wearing it quite close cropped – evenly. I guess its not seen as quite ‘royal’ to have a suede head?)
he’s one of the best things going for them really, he used to represent colonial glory and being better and wittier than everyone else. Then some uppity Welsh and Irish blokes took the role, had some marginal success *cough* and now it’s back to good English stock in Daniel Craig.
That was uncomfortable to write, channeling gammon.
A cueball head might be seen as too modern. Photo flashbulbs reflecting on a shiny head would be indecorous (this said as a fellow baldy).
Always thought Dalton was the best, great actor, especially in comedy roles.
was listening to a podcast yesterday that mentioned off hand that if Dalton had a third bond film, or even Goldeneye (if the times had worked out) he’d be the best. License to Kill is definitely in my top 3.
Oh that dress Kate Middleton is wearing is absolutely gorgeous. Real old Hollywood glamour there.
It’d be gas if she got a leading part in the next Bond movie – as one of Bond’s romantic interests.
Well her acting credentials are impeccable. One might really believe she is everything they make her out to be. Not having a go, I am sure she is a nice enough person but the way the UK media portray her as some sort of modern day Saint who is above all and any criticism and incapable of putting a foot wrong is quite cringe. I remember while Diana was toeing the line she was also held up as being the same but we now know that Diana was not a well woman and her mental health issues were seen as an embarrassment to be quashed rather than addressed lest she bring stigma into that family – the irony!
Not disputing your point – I totally agree actually. The slavish way the UK media (even the Irish media at times) write about her is unnerving.
But I would just draw attention the harassment she received for many years at the hands of the tabloids, both before and after her marriage. She wasn’t always the patron saint of the British royal family. I think the shift in tone came around the time Harry met
SallyMeghan, unsurprisingly. And then they say the UK media isn’t racist.That’s a very good point millie, I had forgotten how her initial treatment was hardly pleasant. I wonder how her and Meghan get on, must be surreal being a part of all that, clearly too surreal (among other things!) for Meghan anyway, time will tell with Kate but William does seem to be a lot more human than most of them at least even if he still comes off as a bit robotic at time.
Vaccine thought of the day: I would get vaccinated except then I’d be living in fear of the unvaccinated.
Jibber Jabber.
@SOQ Vaccinated thought of the day:
I genuinely hope, despite our bickering that you don’t catch covid. No tricks, no game playing, not trying to be smart; outside of this I always found common cause on a lot of other issues with you.
Stay well dude.
And why should I be the topic of infection more than anyone else? Because I am not vaccinated or because I have strong views on the subject? There are those who rush to highlight every single case of an unvaccinated who falls to Covid-19 but completely ignore those who were vaccinated- that is gloating of the worse kind.
Some people view these jabs as being a means of security and peace of mind- good for them but I do not, I feel the exact opposite. Even if no injury occurred, it would cause me huge stress and I would be border line hypochondriac after it. That doesn’t mean I am right and others are wrong, just that those vaccinations are not for me.
I probably already had it btw- certainly a few instances of similar in the past.
Just a genuine, simple ‘stay well’. Take it as you will but it was meant in all sincerity.
I’ve zero interest in point scoring here, been too much sickness, both physical and spiritual among us all over the last year and a half. Anyway, that’s it, nothing more, no pontificating, no finger pointing, no gloating.
Absolutely- and best of health to you too because without it, you have nothing.
100% SOQ
Hospitals in New York State suspended and fired hundreds of workers who refused to comply with Monday’s new vaccine mandate for health care employees
New York’s state health department issued an order last month mandating that all healthcare workers receive at least their first COVID-19 shot by September 27
Hundreds of healthcare workers across the state have been suspended without pay and will lose their jobs in the coming days if they do not get the vaccine
Of the 43,000 employees at the New York City’s 11 public hospitals, about 5,000 were not vaccinated according to head of NYC Health + Hospitals on Monday
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10040445/New-York-hospitals-suspended-fired-hundreds-workers-did-not-comply-vaccine-mandate.html
Opinion piece on this stupidity by Helen Buyniski for RT- Probably because no US paper would print it.
From ‘healthcare heroes’ to 2nd-class zeroes: New York hospitals sack their unvaxxed employees as police state’s jaws snap shut
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/536075-newyork-sacked-unvaccinated-medics/
“It (Vaccine Passports) does not save lives, instead merely helping to reduce humanity to a panicked mass of reactionary rule-obeyers who get nervous when they are left to their own devices without orders to follow.”
Wow. The irony of a Russian outlet talking about ‘police state jaws snapping shut’ is off the charts. ‘Reactionary rule obeyers.’ Isn’t that a quote from Putin’s political manifesto? ‘Reactionary rule pberyeres don’t accidentaly fall out of windows.’
Except it not a Russian outlet talking about it- it is an American journalist- RT merely published. Try harder Nigel.
Of course the main topic is that NY state will have to bring in military to do the jobs of people who were hailed as hero’s a year ago and who now won’t even get unemployment, but sure lets just ignore that eh?
Yeah, not sure that’s a meaningful distinction you’re making there.
This is certainly an extreme step, but I don’t think there’s anything particularly heroic about going to work in health-care, particularly frontline healthcare, while unvaccinated, when vaccines are available to all.
Vaccines which we now know for certain do not prevent transmission- and that is where the entire argument falls down.
If a vaccine only impacts the health of the recipient then it should be a personal choice only. The only communitarian argument for mandatory vaccination is infectiousness.
Otherwise, why not sack all overweight people or those who smoke? Where does it end?
Vaccines which we know know reduce the likelhiood of catching and transmitting the virus, and reducing the chances of it being severe if it is contracted.
Being overweight or being a smoker does not increase anyone’s chances of catching the virus, only the chances of it being severe if they do catch it.
But we don’t know that it reduces the level of infectiousness- that is just speculation because they are supposed to reduce infectiousness, therefore they must.
But the data is suggesting the exact opposite- countries with high vaccination rates are now seeing huge spikes- if they are as claimed then just does not make sense.
High rates of infections amongst unvaccinated versus low rates among vaccinated suggest otherwise.
Things are getting mighty queer in NYC these days. BLM is kicking off about Vaccine Passports.
Trump supporters and BLM on the one side- not in your wildest dreams could you imagine, but it is happening.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=BLM+vaccine+passports
Interesting stat- Black Americans are under 20% vaccinated and Asian Americans are under 10% vaccinated.
Poor Nigel must be wild confused now- ha ha.
‘Poor Nigel must be wild confused now- ha ha.’
What a weird version of me must live in your head.
Well you are pro BLM and pro vaccine passports surely?
I’m pro-BLM. Nobody is ‘pro vaccine passports,’ but I accept them as a useful short-term measure.
Actually no, some are very pro vaccine passports- narcissistic types who relish the idea of feeling superior to others- even a few on here.
It is a personality disorder which is a lot more common than most people think.
WWJD
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAPZN3UXIAAT8JG?format=jpg&name=900×900
Anything yet about a former journalist, failed elections’ candidate and convicted criminal?
Why, yes there is:
https://the-beacon.ie/2021/09/29/bray-court-finds-gemma-odoherty-guilty-on-three-counts/
Gemma O’Doherty convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour, given two-month suspended sentence and a €750 fine:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/gemma-odoherty-convicted-of-threatening-and-abusive-behaviour-40902158.html
#thuglife