Author Archives: Bodger

Tonight.

A Status Yellow low temperature/ice-warning is in place from 6pm until 11am tomorrow.

Met Éireann issued the warning earlier today.

Via Met Éireann

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Temple Bar, Dublin 8/Dublin 2.

Scenes from the launch of the Temple Bar Trad Fest which runs from January 22-26 and features a ‘host family friendly music concerts, craft workshops, street performances and much more for music lovers of all ages’.

Events include ‘Ukulele Tuesday’ and the Children’s hub at The Ark as well as over 8,500 FREE (yes, free!) tickets to concerts featuring the Fureys, Paddy Casey, The Kilkennys, The Young Folk and more (details below).

Tradfest

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

EARLIER:

Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Paddy Holohan on his No Shame podcast; Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to journalists in Bray this afternoon

This afternoon.

In Bray, Co Wicklow.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has responded to comments made by Sinn Féin councillor Paddy Holohan on his No Shame podcast.

Mr Holohan made comments about Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Indian heritage on the podcast and subsequently apologised yesterday saying his comments had been misinterpreted.

This morning Joe.ie reported that on the same podcast, he suggested underage girls were having sex with men and then blackmailing them for sums of money up to €10,000.

Ms McDonald told journalists in Bray:

“A matter came to my attention just over the last 40 minutes or so that we had to deal with which I imagine you will have questions on.

“And that is comments made by Councillor Paddy Holohan on his podcast. I have moved immediately to the party’s disciplinary procedures, all of that matter is now in hand.

“And disciplinary action will be taken.

“Obviously, the comments themselves are offensive, they’re beyond offensive. I actually find them upsetting.

“I’m very, very shocked at the comments made and the party’s disciplinary procedure is now activated as we speak.

“And it involves, we have procedures within the party to deal with circumstances where there has been a gross breach of the code of ethics.

“That is what I regard this to be.

“But obviously I have to allow that procedure now to continue. And we will make a further statement in the course of today.”

Asked by Hugh O’Connell, of the Irish Independent, if Cllr Holohan has been suspended, Ms McDonald said:

“The procedure has to be gone through. I don’t have the authority, nor should I, to just arbitrarily suspend or expel anyone. So I have moved immediately to ask the party to trigger that procedure and that is now in train.

“It’s only come to my attention literally in the last 40 minutes, so I am as shocked to see this commentary as anybody else.”

Paddy Holohan is now facing disciplinary action from Sinn Féin over his claims that “scum” underage girls were having sex with men and blackmailing them (Ellen Coyne, Joe.ie)

Via Hugh O’Connell

Pic: Shane Beatty

This lunchtime.

Dublin Fire Brigade tweetz:

We’ve made good progress at the industrial fire in Swords and will be scaling back the response. Units will stay on scene damping down. Smoke was visible over a wide area in clear skies.

EARLIER:

Lovely fire engine emojis, in fairness.

This lunchtime.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has announced that its members will go on strike on Tuesday, February 4th.

This is days before the general election on February 8th.

In a statement, the TUI says:

The Union represents some 19,000 members in second level schools, colleges of further and adult education and Institutes of Technology/Technological Universities.

In October, TUI members voted by a margin of 92% to 8% to engage in a campaign of industrial action, up to and including strike action, on this issue, and the Union announced in November that it would take strike action in February unless the matter was resolved.

The union stated that while its campaign has resulted in progress, those teachers employed after 1st January 2011 will still earn some €110,000 less than longer-serving colleagues over the course of a career. Critically, they will earn over €50,000 less in the first ten years of their career when key life choices are made.

Speaking today, TUI President Seamus Lahart said:

‘We have exhausted every avenue open to us to bring this matter to resolution and have been left with no choice but to take strike action over the ongoing scandal of pay discrimination.”

TUI members to take strike action on Tuesday, 4th February over failure to eliminate pay discrimination (TUI)

This morning.

Fianna Fail Generel Election HQ.

At a Press Briefing on Crime and Drugs were, top pic from left: Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Drugs John Curran, Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan, and Dublin City Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile…

Leah Farrell/RollingNews