Author Archives: Bodger

Was it for this?

Localization Girls asks:

Dalkey Quarry [or any Irish quarry for that matter] not good enough?

Anyone?

Old logo

New logo

This afternoon.

Dublin Airport.

Aer Lingus unveils its new – faintly garish (torquise?) – logo, branding and livery at a press event in Dublin Airport.

Two million lids apparently.

Flight! Fight!

Refreshed Aer Lingus brand includes new shamrock logo (RTÉ)

Liam Cunningham

On The Late Late Show…

Sarah Whiteacre writes:

Joining host Ryan Tubridy to chat about the upcoming final season of Game of Thrones, actor Liam Cunningham…

In one of the most turbulent weeks of Theresa May’s tenure, Ryan will be joined in studio by Mairead McGuinness, Vice President of the European Parliament and MEP…

Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song is a national celebration of the songs that define us as a people. Ahead of the search, Ryan will be joined by Irish folk royalty including Mary Black, Phelim Drew, Aoife Scott and Fiachna Ó Braonáin, to discuss the music they’re most connected to and to play some of their most loved songs…

Illegally adopted from a GP in Monaghan in the 1970s, and with few clues to her origins, Margaret Norton will tell Ryan the extraordinary story of how, despite the odds, she recently reconnected with her birth parents…

Ireland’s largest festival of traditional music, TradFest, returns next week, and to celebrate we’ll have a performance from 11 vocalists including Paddy Casey, Eleanor McEvoy and Sibéal Ní Chasaide…

There will also be comedy from Bridget and Eamon (Jennifer Zamparelli and Bernard O’Shea)…

The Late Late Show on RTÉ One tomorrow at 9.35pm

Rollingnews

 Assistant Garda Commissioner  Pat Leahy (left) and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris facing questioning from the Police Authority today after  Mr Harris apologised in public, for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme

This afternoon.

Three quarters of the crimes not properly investigated relate to public order, theft, traffic and criminal damage, but also included are 55 serious crimes, including the rape of a woman, another serious sexual offence and a case of child neglect.

The figures have been published today in a garda report, which reviewed the Youth Referrals Scheme from 2010 to 2017.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris issued a public apology when he appeared before the Policing Authority this afternoon.

Garda report shows 3,500 juveniles not prosecuted for crimes (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Brrrrr.

From top: The Coombe; Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger; People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith; Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl 

This afternoon.

In the Dáil, during Questions on Promised Legislation – which were taken by Tánaiste Simon Coveney.

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger and People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith spoke about a pregnant woman Emma Connors, from Clondalkin, Dublin, whom they say has been refused a termination at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital in Dublin, despite two consultants certifying that she needed a termination for a fatal foetal abnormality.

Ms Coppinger said the board of the hospital overruled the two consultants’ direction and asked her to wait four weeks to see if she has a spontaneous miscarriage.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl repeatedly asked the two politicians not to discuss a person’s medical situation during the Questions on Promised Legislation segment.

During her contribution, Ms Coppinger said:

“At 13 weeks this woman went for her 12-week scan. They could clearly see at that point that the organs of the foetus were outside of the body. They brought her back a week later where that was fully confirmed when they got a better image.

“One doctor, her consultant, and then another consultant was brought in and he said ‘yes, this is a fatal foetal abnormality’. But then, a week later, it went to the board. And the board have overruled that.

“…This is about the law…Ceann Comhairle, if you don’t mind..this is about…this is the second….a main maternity hospital in the capital city of this country is refusing this woman her constitutional rights when two doctors certify what is very clearly a fatal foetal abnormality.

“And it would seem to me that it’s because of the chilling effect of criminalisation that maternity hospitals are acting in this way. And don’t forget the Rotunda is only enforcing the law to 11 weeks which the minister has written to them about.

“I’m asking you to get the minister to meet this woman today. She should not have to pay to travel [to the UK] which is what she’s talking about doing if she doesn’t have her constitutional rights affirmed.”

Ms Smith said:

“I spoke to this woman last night. Emma Connors, she’s from Clondalkin. She’s pregnant on a much-wanted baby but she has been told by her doctors: you can go to England.

“Her words to me were: ‘this is not what I voted for, I have constitutional rights’. Now what are you Tánaiste [Simon Coveney] are you doing to do about it today? Not next week, today. She finds it hard to sleep, knowing that the condition, that her much-wanted child is in and she wants a termination. She’s entitled to it, this country voted for it.”

The Ceann Comhairle said:

“We cannot and will not have, in this chamber, a situation in which individual cases are brought up here and ministers called upon to adjudicate or comment upon medical situations. It is completely… the law is one thing, discussing individual medical circumstances is not appropriate, not appropriate, not in order.”

Simon Coveney said:

“The law is now clear in this area. The Government with the support of many in this house passed legislation in a way that was consistent with what we promised we would do in the context of the referendum that was taken.

“So the law is clear. But I agree with the Ceann Comhairle. I don’t think it’s appropriate, deputy, to raise a tragic case of somebody who is clearly under a lot of stress and this case needs to be dealt with appropriately by doctors in a hospital. Not on the floor of the Dáil.”

Ms Smyth told Mr Coveney the woman wanted it to be raised and she wanted to be named.

The Ceann Comhairle then said:

“Deputy, there are patients in hospitals across the country that might want various circumstances that they find themselves in, distressed, discussed here on the floor of the house, it hasn’t happened and it’s not going to happen now…you’ve raised your point, you’ve made your point, you’re out of order, you’re out of order, you’re out of order…”

Watch Dáil proceedings live here

Update:

UPDATE:

Dublin Rental Investigator tweetz:

472 NCR ‘Little flat,’ a studio with 2 bunk-beds. €390pm. 4 people living in a one bed poorly maintained studio for €1,560pm. #BunkBedCity #LeosIreland #MurphysMess #RaiseTheRoof

472 north circular road, Dublin 1 (Rent.ie)

Previously: Dublin Rental Investigator on Broadsheet

57 The Headline bar on Lower Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8;
Article 50 Brexit Stout

This morning.

Publin.ie is reporting that yesterday 57 The Headline bar on Lower Clanbrassil Street in Dublin 8 started to sell Article 50 Brexit Stout.

*burp*

The Headline have a new ‘Article 50 Brexit Stout’ (Publin.ie)

Earlier: Perfidious Albion, Duplicitous Hibernia

From top: cyclists protest outside Leinster House last year; Robert Troy

This afternoon.

At 12.47pm, the Dáil will vote on greater investment in cycling in a motion  brought by Fianna Fáil Transport Spokesperson Robert Troy.

Members of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour, Green Party, People Before Profit, Social Democrats and some independents have said they will support the motion which asks that Dáil Éireann recognise:

 That chronic congestion is grinding our cities and road arteries to a halt, making it more difficult and more unpleasant for people to get to work;

That Ireland lags behind our European peers in the provision of safe cycling infrastructure, such as dedicated cycle lanes, secure bike storage facilities and cyclist-friendly traffic lights.

That the largest cycling conference in the world is due to take place in Dublin in June 2019, and that Ireland needs to show progress on the development of cycling infrastructure;

And condemns:

 The considerable safety risks that cyclists face on Irish roads, owing to our poorly developed cycling infrastructure.

The current low funding allocations for cycling at only approximately two per cent of the overall land transport capital budget.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport’s failure to bring forward legislation requiring drivers to maintain a minimum distance when passing cyclists.

And calls on the Government to:

 Prioritise the rollout of dedicated cycle tracks, that are physically segregated from other road users, across the country;

 Place cycling infrastructure at the heart of transport infrastructure planning by appointing a dedicated cycling officer to every local authority at an appropriate level of seniority, and by establishing a dedicated cycling division within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to coordinate activity and projects across all departments;

Introduce cycle friendly legislative initiatives, similar to those of our European neighbours to promote the growth of cycling, including contra-flow cycling, left turn at red lights and joint use of pedestrian crossings.

Build on the successes of bike sharing schemes by expanding these schemes to major suburbs of towns and cities.

Revise the Bike to Work scheme to allow commuters to purchase a new bike every three years instead of every five years, and to extend this scheme to pensioners and unemployed people.

FIGHT!

Dáil to vote on motion on investment in cycling (DublinCyclingCampaign)

Rollingnews

Thanks Paul Corcoran

UPDATE:

In fairness.

I now know why political groupings in Westminster are called “parties”, with the Speaker John Bercow forever calling out “hors d’oeuvres”. I dread to think of the hangover.

David Curran,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.

Ayes to the right (Irish Times letters page)

Related: ‘More animal than ever’: Europeans find joy in John Bercow (The Guardian)