Author Archives: Bodger

Columnist Fintan O’Toole argues that “those who won’t get a shot in the arm” could “end up raising that arm in stiff salute”

This morning.

Via Fintan O’Toole in The Irish Times:

There are, crudely, three kinds of “anti-vaxxers”. In ascending order of purposeful malignity, they are the egoists, the paranoiacs and the fascists.

…Instead of treating them all as an undifferentiated mass of fools and knaves, it is better to think about their individual motivations.

The fascists can’t be argued with, not least because they don’t actually give a damn either way about vaccines. The issue exists for them merely as another anxiety to be exploited. The point, therefore, is to try to separate the other two groups from these malignant forces.

In dealing with the egotists, it is surely best to appeal to their egos. Telling them that they are stupid and wrong won’t work. Neither, obviously, does the plea to think about other people.

…As for the paranoiacs, the aim should be to work with, not against, their suspicion and mistrust. They won’t listen to official admonitions. But their friends and neighbours can ask them why they are so willing to trust online “influencers” and smooth-talking charlatans.

Try to get them to see that the spread of conspiracy theories is itself a real and well-funded conspiracy. People who take pride in “thinking for themselves” must be urged to actually do so.

Every week, it gets harder for a general public that overwhelmingly understands the need for vaccination to stay patient with those who don’t or won’t. People are dying, not just from Covid, but because the unvaccinated are taking up scarce capacity in our already overstretched hospitals.

But rage, however justified, is self-defeating. It merely drives misguided people towards those who want to turn a biological pandemic into a political plague. It adds to the chances that those who won’t get a shot in the arm end up raising that arm in stiff salute.’

Thud.

Three anti-vaccine types: paranoiacs, egotists and fascists (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)

Pics: Wikipedia/European press Prize


In case you missed it.

Westport, county Mayo Fine Gael TD Michael Ring made his contribution to Wednesday’s debate on the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 felt.

Deputy Ring said:

“What we have done in this country is not the Minister’s fault. I blame fellas like Deputy Boyd Barrett and the Green Party, who come down to Mayo, Cork and Kerry wanting to build a holiday home but the minute they build it they do not want anyone beside them and they object.

We had objections from Dún Laoghaire, Wicklow and Germany to local people building homes.

“This week, this State is 100 years old. It is 100 years since we signed the Treaty. The Minister must do something with local authorities and planners. There are inconsistencies with planners because some of them have been trained in Belfast and some in Dublin. There is no consistency.

“We have a dictatorship in this country. It is not a political dictatorship but a public service dictatorship and it has got to such a stage now that they think they are more powerful than the Minister. The local authorities do not care about the Minister anymore. They are out of hand.

“When I was part of the previous Government I preached at every Cabinet meeting that these people were gone out of hand. The Dublin 4 media, RTÉ and all these media people criticise the likes of Deputies Durkan and Kehoe for making representations for the people who elect us. They want it left to An Taisce. They are the ones deciding on planning in this country now.

“I am going to start a campaign in the new year. I have the fight back in me again and I am ready for a fight. If the Minister, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Government do not kick on the public service I do not know where this country is going to be. It is time a small bit of power came back to the elected representatives.”

Deputy Mary Butler:

“Hear, hear.”

Deputy Ring:

“I have been in this House nearly 26 years. I have a question for the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister. Have they ever seen a public servant sacked or disciplined? Do they know what is done with them? They are rewarded and given a bigger office just to get rid of them if they are causing trouble. There has to be accountability. If these people were working for the private sector they would be accountable.

“There is no accountability in the public service. There are fellas here who will lick the county managers and there are fellas here that rub them. It is time that power was brought back to the elected representatives in this country. The Minister is an elected representative and he might think this is a joke but if we do not bring power back to the people then the people will take the power from the politicians. There was talk about the Ard Comhairle or Sinn Féin, bringing people to public meetings.”

Deputy Paul Kehoe:

“The Army Council.”

Deputy Ring:

“When the Army Council is on one corner and the public servants are in the other corner then it is going to be hard luck for this country so it is.”

FIGHT!

Transcript via Oireachtas.ie

This afternoon.

A judge has refused to lift an order she imposed preventing the media from identifying a public servant charged with falsely imprisoning and sexually assaulting a woman at his workplace last year.

Via RTE News:

The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed that there was no legal basis for the imposition of reporting restrictions.

The judge Treasa Kelly, however, said this afternoon that she “had some bit of a look” at the case and the legislation during lunchtime, but said she was “not satisfied it is quite as straightforward“.

Judge Kelly said defence solicitor Martin Moran had asked for time to “give him a chance to put in submissions on behalf of his client” and she said she was going to give him time.

However, the book of evidence was also served on the accused, so the case has now been sent forward to the higher Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial.

Judge Kelly said that this meant that she will no longer have any involvement in the case and the “obvious thing” is that “the circuit court deal with it“.

She said she had a look at the matter “over lunch“ but she had not given it “a huge look” and “haven’t resolved the issue in my head“.

Judge Kelly also said she was “not in a position to make a decision” on the reporting restrictions she had imposed and it was up to the media “to take the matter elsewhere“.

The case has now been sent forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Seems legit?

YOU be the judge.

Judge refuses to lift ban on naming sexual assault suspect (RTÉ)

NFL star Demaryius Thomas

This morning.

Via New York Post:

Former Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas died Thursday at his Roswell, Ga., home. He was 33.

Roswell police said Thursday night that Thomas was found dead in his home. The police added that preliminary reports indicated Thomas’ death might have resulted from a medical issue, according to ESPN.

“Preliminary information is that his death stems from a medical issue, and our investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise,” public information officer Tim Lupo said in a statement early Friday

Former Broncos, Jets receiver Demaryius Thomas dies at age 33

Former Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas, 33, found dead in his home, police say (ESPN)

Previously: Falling Down

ESPN

The Jam Art 10th anniversary collection

This afternoon.

Jam Art Factory is having a birthday!

Mark at Jam Art Prints writes:

To celebrate our 10 year anniversary of Jam Art Factory, we’ve a new collection of limited edition A2 giclée prints by 8 of our Irish based artists all based around the theme of Nostalgia on JamArtPrints.com. The A2 prints are limited to only 10. The A3 and A4 are unlimited digital prints.

We’d like to give away one of these prints in A3 size to the person who tells us their favourite childhood Christmas memory. Best answer wins!

Lines must close on Sunday at Middday.

Jam Art Prints

The Jam Art print competitions runs here every Friday until Christmas.

This morning/afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Members of the Travelling community gathered outside Leinster House to mark International Human Rights Day, and to hand in a petition to  Taoiseach Micheál Martin to take ‘immediate action to address the mental health crisis being experienced by the Traveller community and the denial of Human rights and Institutionalised racism’.

From top: Jimmy Keenan, who lost his wife Bridget to cancer in 2019 and his son Jim at the age of 23 in 2020 to suicide; National Traveller Mental Health Network chairperson Geraldine McDonnell (left) and Acting Chair Maggie McDonagh; Paddy James Collins from Finglas in his own hand-crafted wagon; Members of the travelling community, including singer David Keenan from Ennis and speaker Thomas McCann from the Traveller Counselling Service; A crucifix and momento of Jimmy’s wife and son; Paddy James outside Leinster House.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

From top: Data Protection Commission HQ; Then Fine Gael Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe launching the Public Service Card in 2016

This morning.

A Department of Social Protection appeal against an Enforcement Notice issued by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in relation to the Department’s processing of personal data when issuing Public Services Cards (PSC) has been resolved.

Via the Data Protection Commission:

The Data Protection Commission welcomes the resolution of the proceedings.

In particular, it welcomes the fact that significantly enhanced levels of information are now being provided to citizens to explain (amongst other things) what personal data is processed when an individual applies for a PSC, how it is processed, and to what end, with further enhancements to follow on the basis of additional engagement between the parties.

The DPC also welcomes the Department’s acknowledgment that, in the absence of legislation making specific provision for this, other public sector bodies cannot compel any individual to acquire a PSC as a precondition to the provision of access to public services.

To that end, at least one other option must now be provided in any case where an individual is required to verify their identity before accessing public services.

Significant adjustments are also to be made to the Department’s approach to the retention of applicants’ personal information, it being recognised that a system founded on the blanket and indefinite retention of all of the information contained in documents submitted in support of a PSC application does not strike an appropriate balance between an applicant’s rights under data protection law, and such other interests as the Department seeks to protect. The DPC looks forward to engaging with the Department in relation to the development and implementation of its new systems.

The DPC also looks forward to the Department’s continued cooperation with its ongoing (and separate) inquiry into the Department’s use of biometric facial templates in the application of its facial matching software which is used for the purposes of the SAFE 2 registration process when a person applies for a PSC.

DPC welcomes resolution of proceedings relating to the Public Services Card (DPC)

RollingNews

Thanks Bebe

Meanwhile…

This morning.

The mysterious White Lady Christmas decorations are BACK!

Finally.

Fergus O’Neill writes:

The mysterious ‘Lady on the Rock’ is a mysterious mystery that has beguiled Dubliners for centuries. Some say she protects your windows from the bad juju. Others insist she is made from solid cocaine* and if you touch her on the way out the door and cross yourself 3 times a protective shield of invincibility will enshroud you. She may even protect you from evil spells & new variants**

Cast in fine plaster. The lady comes with a red ribbon to hang her from your tree or why don’t you just place the mini white lady on top of your computer. Ideal for Windows. Get yours now while STOCKS LAST!

White Lady Christmas Decoration (GrandGrand)

Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-Made Stocking Fillers’. No fee.

* not made from cocaine.
** protection from spells (evil & benevolent) wanes immediately after purchase.