Author Archives: Bodger

Last night/this morning.

Northern Territories, Australia.

Under a new snap ‘lockout’ until Monday next announced by Chief Minister Michael Gunner (top), the unjabbed cannot go to work or even leave home for exercise.

Via Sky News

Lockdown measures apply to all residents who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The unvaccinated can only leave their homes for medical treatment, for essential goods and services, and to provide care to someone who cannot support themselves.

The territory has also strengthened rules for visiting secluded communities – only residents and essential workers who return a negative rapid antigen test will be able to enter these communities.

Harsh but fair dinkum.

FIGHT!

ANYONE?

Stop screaming.

Sorry.

HSE letter informs unvaccinated paramedic of being stood down ‘from all frontline duties’ (Irish Examiner)

RollingNews

Um.

Meanwhile…

Oh.

Meanwhile…

The Taoiseach has said that booster vaccinations against COVID-19 may be needed for people to gain access to the hospitality sector.

When asked if people looking to enter the hospitality sector such as pubs or restaurants will require their boosters, Mr Martin said: ‘In the fullness of time, yes I think well, shorter than that. I think the HSE are now working on including the booster within the vaccination record and cert’.

Booster jabs will soon be needed for hospitality — Taoiseach (Extra.ie)

Meanwhile…

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that new Digital Covid Certs will be issued by the end of this week to show when people have received their booster vaccine.

The updated Covid Certs will be automatically issued to booster vaccine recipients.

The new EU Regulations for the nine month validity of certs will take effect from February 1st.

Covid Ireland: Minister Stephen Donnelly says new Digital Covid Certs to be issued by end of the week (Irish Mirror)

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe at government buoldings yesterday

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

Paschal Donohoe said “mechanics” to reduce energy costs for people are being worked on at the moment and he expects they will come before the Dáil very soon.

The Minister said the Government wants to be confident that companies pass the full reduction onto customers.

He added that changes have also been made to social welfare payments, including fuel payments.

Paschal Donohoe said the Government cannot insulate everyone fully from increases because there are many other priorities that need to be delivered.

These include a massive national effort to deal with Covid-19 and a wage subsidy scheme to support employers and employees.

Budget measures helping people cope with inflation – Donohoe (RTE)

RollingNews

‘sup?

This morning.

Via Ken Foxe (!) in the irish Examiner:

Leinster House was urged to keep the windows of its offices closed at night because of a rogue fox that had urinated in the neighbouring Department of the Taoiseach.

Exterminator reports said that foxes were coming to feed on food debris from skips in an area called the Fisheries Yard of the Oireachtas buildings. A “strong smell” of fox urine was noted at the site with advice given for the skips to be tightly closed off and for the area to be thoroughly washed down.

The inspection report said it was especially important that all windows would be kept shut in the evening as this “presented easy access for unwanted pests”. “A fox was noted in a neighbouring property [Government Buildings] only recently and urinated all over an office,” it said.

Urinating fox in Taoiseach’s department forces Leinster House to shut windows at night (Irish Examiner)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

This morning.

Mother of Divine Grace primary school, Ballygall, Dublin.

Pupils return for the first time since the Christmas holiday. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has warned that thousands of teachers will be absent today, and that some students will have to engage in remote learning.

Schools reopen amid concerns about absences (RTE)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Novak Djokovic

This morning.

Australia.

Via ESPN:

Novak Djokovic faces further sleepless nights in detention as the nine-time champion’s Australian Open fate remains in legal limbo following the adjournment of his desperate court case against deportation.

The world No.1 is challenging the Australian government’s decision to cancel his visa, applying for a judicial review, and attempting to stave off deportation in the meantime.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly on Thursday night said there was a delay in receiving the application for a review of the visa decisions and the temporary ban on Djokovic’s deportation.

Novak Djokovic to remain in visa limbo until Monday (ESPN)

Meanwhile…

Ah.